Braves Host IUPUI in Home Opener

Zach Dalin

Men's Basketball 11/8/2019 1:00:00 PM

Bradley (0-1) vs. IUPUI (0-1)
Game Details	Saturday, Nov. 9 • 7 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	ESPN+
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| IUPUI
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

The Bradley basketball team is officially in action at Carver Arena for the first time in more than eight months with its home opener on Saturday against IUPUI. First tip is set for 7 p.m.

PROMOTIONS
• Prior to Saturday's game, the 2019 Valley Champions will be recognized with the unveiling of the team's wall banner at Carver Arena.
• Saturday is Peoria Night. Any fan with a Peoria address can present their driver's license at the box office on game day for two white level tickets for 50% off.
• Bradley will also honor its Salute to Service night as any active military personnel with an ID can get two free tickets at the box office.
• Also, in Kaboom!'s Korner is inflatables from Fun on the Run, including a Bounce House.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley lost its season opener at Saint Joseph's, falling by a score of 86-81.
• Five Braves scored in double figures, led by 17 points and five assists from senior Darrell Brown.
• Senior Koch Bar also registered his first double-double in three seasons with 13 points and 12 boards versus the Hawks.
• Nate Kennell (15), Elijah Childs (11) and Ja'Shon Henry (10) also reached double figures in points.
• Bradley shot 39.0 percent in the contest with a 45.0 percent clip from 3-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
• The Braves and Jaguars have played seven times previously – alternating wins with each school winning three times.
• Last season, IUPUI used a strong start in both periods to earn an 85-73 victory in Indianapolis.
• Bradley is 2-0 against IUPUI at Carver Arena, which includes a 68-53 victory two years ago in the season opener. Nate Kennell led the Braves with 19 points in the winning effort.

BRAVES VERSUS HORIZON LEAGUE
• Bradley is 42-28 all-time against schools when in the Horizon League.
• The Braves have lost their last two matchups against league schools, falling to UIC and IUPUI last season.
• Bradley had won its previous three games against the Horizon prior to last season.

ABOUT THE JAGUARS
• IUPUI lost its season opener on Wednesday, falling at Butler, 80-47.
• Junior transfer Marcus Burk led the Jaguars with 17 points, making 7-of-21 field goals.
• IUPUI finished the 2018-19 season with a 16-17 record, going 8-10 in Horizon League play.
• The Jaguars lost four of their top five scorers from a season ago. Jaylen Minnett is back after finishing second on the team with 12.0 points per game (he scored seven against the Bulldogs in the opener).
• Elyjah Goss also returns after averaging 6.8 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds last season.

BACK AT HOME AT CARVER ARENA
• After starting the 2019-20 season on the road, Bradley returns to Peoria to face the Jaguars in its home opener.
• Since moving to Carver Arena in 1982, Bradley is 34-3 in its first home game of the season.
• The Braves have won their last four home openers and 25 of their last 26 season debuts at Carver Arena.

HIGH-SCORING ATTACK
• The Braves' offensive attack has already shown that it will be higher powered this year, scoring 81 points in the opener at Saint Joseph's.
• Bradley's 81 points are its most in the first game of the season since a 95-81 victory against Pepperdine in 2002.
• It also just three points shy of the most scored under Coach Wardle in a regulation road game (84 at Chicago State on Dec. 16, 2017).
• In the first four seasons under Coach Wardle, Bradley averaged 63.97 points per game (66.5 in season openers and 62.8 on the road).

DEPTH IN SCORING
• One key for the Braves on offense is their depth of options.
• Five Braves scored in double figures in Tuesday's game, led by 17 from senior Darrell Brown.
• It is the first time since defeating Jacksonville State on Nov. 14 of last season the Braves had five double-digit scorers.

DOUBLING UP WITH KOCH BAR
• Senior Koch Bar started his year off on a strong note, registering his second career double-double.
• Bar tallied 13 points and 12 boards on Tuesday for his first double-double since Nov. 29, 2016 against Eastern Illinois.
• The senior is the first Brave to record a double-double in the season opener since Tyshon Pickett had 15 points and 10 rebounds in 2013.

CLEANING THE GLASS
• The Braves were especially strong on the offensive glass in Tuesday's opener.
• Bradley collected 23 offensive rebounds at Saint Joseph's – tied for the second most nationally behind San Diego State's 26 against Texas Southern.
• The 23 offensive boards are the team's most since collecting 25 against Little Rock on Dec. 22, 2014.

CHILDS ON LOU HENSON WATCH LIST
• Junior Elijah Childs was named to the Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List.
• The award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I mid-major player.
• Childs is one of three players from the Valley to earn the recognition, joining AJ Green (Northern Iowa) and Cameron Krutwig (Loyola).

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