Bradley BRAD 0-1

Saint Joseph's SJU 1-0

Bradley BRAD

0-1

Final

Nov. 05, 2019

Saint Joseph's SJU

1-0

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Bradley BRAD	45	36	81
Saint Joseph's SJU	43	43	86

Box Score

Braves Drop Opener at Saint Joseph’s, 86-81

Box Score (PDF)

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/5/2019 9:43:00 PM

Philadelphia, Pa. – Five Braves scored in double figures in the season opener but it wasn't enough for the Bradley men's basketball team as Saint Joseph's snuck out an 86-81 victory on Tuesday night.

Senior Darrell Brown led Bradley with 17 points and five assists, while classmate Koch Bar registered his second career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Senior Nate Kennell chipped in 15 points, while Elijah Childs and sophomore Ja'Shon Henry also reached double-digits with 11 and 10, respectively.

Bradley started the contest strong and raced to a 14-6 lead just over four minutes into the contest. Bar led BU with six points during the early run as the eight-point edge was the largest for either team in the game.

Saint Joseph's weathered the early storm, however, and trailing by seven late in the half, the Hawks finished the opening stanza on a 7-2 run to pull within just two of the Braves at the intermission, 45-43.

The first half set up a competitive second stanza as neither team had the ball with a two-possession lead until under five minutes remaining. Trailing by four with two minutes left in the contest, Brown sunk his third 3-pointer of the night to pull Bradley within one, 80-79. The Braves got the defensive stop they needed but saw their go-ahead attempt on the offensive side of the court blocked. The Hawks then made six free throws in the final minute to secure the 86-81 victory.

The Braves shot 39.0 percent in the contest, including a 45.0 percent clip from 3-point range. The Hawks converted 41.9 percent of their baskets, while also making 28-of-32 free throws in the winning effort.

Bradley returns home to face IUPUI in its season opener on Saturday night. First tip at Carver Arena is set for 7 p.m.

Game Notes: The Braves opened the season on the road for the first time since 2009 … Bar's double-double is the first for the senior since his freshman season against Eastern Illinois … Bradley collected 23 offensive rebounds on Tuesday – its most since corralling 25 against Little Rock on Dec. 22, 2014 … The Braves' 81 points are their most in a season opener since a 95-81 victory against Pepperdine in 2002 … Bradley now leads the series with Saint Joseph's, 4-2.

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