Bradley BRAD 9-19, 4-11 MVC

UNI UNI 14-12, 9-6 MVC

Bradley BRAD

9-19, 4-11 MVC

Final

Feb. 15, 2017

UNI UNI

14-12, 9-6 MVC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Bradley BRAD	34	27	61
UNI UNI	31	33	64

Box Score

Braves’ Rally Falls Short at Northern Iowa

Box Score (PDF)

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 2/15/2017 9:59:00 PM

Cedar Falls, Iowa – Bradley trimmed a 12-point second-half deficit down to two but couldn't complete the comeback in the final minute as host Northern Iowa held on for a 64-61 victory on Wednesday night. The loss drops the Braves to 9-19 and 4-11 in Missouri Valley Conference action, while the Panthers improve to 14-12 and 9-6 against league foes.

Junior JoJo McGlaston led the Braves with 15 points on the night, scoring 10 after the halftime break. Freshman Nate Kennell added 13 points and tied for the team lead with three assists, while classmate Jayden Hodgson collected a game-best seven rebounds.

The Braves started the game very strong, especially on the offensive end. Bradley scored eight points in its first three possessions to grab the early lead in a back-and-forth first half. Neither team led by more than four points in the opening 20 minutes and the Braves headed into the intermission with a 34-31 advantage behind the strength of Kennell and his four 3-pointers. The rookie hit back-to-back from beyond the arc in the closing minutes as Bradley ended the half on an 11-4 run for the three-point edge at the break.

In the second stanza, the Panthers used an 18-5 strech to turn a two-point Bradley advantage into a 54-43 Northern Iowa lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. The UNI advantage would reach as high as 12 points before Bradley nearly rallied in the final minutes.

The BU comeback attempt started on the defensive end as Bradley held the Panthers without a field goal for the final 6:48 of regulation. Trailing by 10 points with 5:12 remaining, 61-51, Bradley scored eight-straight points to pull within two, 61-59. McGlaston and junior Donte Thomas each scored four points during the run with a dunk by Thomas with just over two minutes left making the game a one-possession contest. The teams traded a pair of made field throws but after forcing a defensive stop, Bradley committed a turnover to give the ball back to the Panthers with less than 15 seconds remaining. UNI made one free throw with nine seconds left, giving Bradley a look to tie the game. However, the Braves' attempt hit the iron and out as Northern Iowa escaped with the three-point victory.

Bradley made 40.4 percent of its shots with a 6-of-18 mark from beyond the arc, while also holding a 36-24 advantage on the glass. The Panthers, meanwhile, made 46.8 percent of their shots, including an 8-of-20 mark from 3-point range, and were led by Bennett Koch and Jeremy Morgan, who each scored 18 points.

The Braves return home to face Evansville on Saturday afternoon. Game time at Carver Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Game Notes: Bradley was aiming for its first win at Northern Iowa since 2008 and just its second in 12 all-time meetings at McLeod Center … McGlaston has scored in double figures in four of the last five games after not doing so in any of the previous seven contests. The junior is averaging 11.4 points during the five-game stretch … Kennell reached double figures for the first time since Jan. 14, ending an eight-game drought … Bradley converted 13 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points, while also outscoring the Panthers' bench, 25-7.

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