Braves Wrap Up Non-Conference with Toledo Saturday

Men's Basketball 12/27/2019 4:35:00 PM

Bradley (8-4) vs. Toledo (8-4)
Game Details	Saturday, Dec. 28 • 1 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	NBC Sports Chicago
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| Toledo
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

The Bradley basketball team wrap up non-conference play with a home game against Toledo on Saturday afternoon. First tip at Carver Arena is set for 1 p.m. and can be seen live on NBC Sports Chicago.

PROMOTIONS
• Saturday is Metamora Community Day. Any fan with a Metamora or Germantown Hills address can present its license at the box office on game day for two white level tickets for 50% off.
• The Braves Club Pre-Game Party starts at 11 a.m. in Civic Center Hall 401-404.
• The early-bird drawing of the Braves Club Raffle is set for halftime with prizes up to $2,000.
• Also, in Kaboom!'s Korner is inflatables from Fun on the Run, including a Bounce House.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley is 8-4 during the 2019-20 campaign after seeing its three-game winning streak snapped last Saturday at Miami (Ohio).
• BU's top scorer and rebounder, Elijah Childs, missed the last contest against the Redhawks with a hand injury suffered on Dec. 15. Childs leads the Braves with 14.5 points and 9.4 boards this year.
• Senior Darrell Brown is second on the team with 11.8 points, while also recording a Valley-best 5.2 assists per game.
• Senior Nate Kennell is third on Bradley with 11.7 points, shooting 47.8 percent from 3-point range.
• Senior Koch Bar is the team's active leader in rebounds with 8.1 per game.
• The Braves are averaging 72.1 points per game, while allowing 63.1 defensively.

SERIES HISTORY
• Bradley and Toledo have played seven prior times but are meeting for the first time in 34 seasons.
• The schools last met during the 1985-86 season with Bradley posting a 69-57 home victory.
• Overall, the Braves own a 5-2 edge in the series, winning the last five games dating back to 1946.

BRAVES VERSUS MAC
• Bradley is 27-8 all-time against schools in the Mid-American Conference.
• Additionally, the Braves are 19-1 versus the MAC at home with their only loss coming to Central Michigan during the 2002-03 season.
• BU lost its only meeting with a MAC team this season, falling at Miami (Ohio) last Saturday.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS
• Toledo is also 8-4 during the 2019-20 season. The Rockets have lost their last two games to Kansas City and Wright State.
• Four Rockets average in double figures, led by 17.3 points from Marreon Jackson to go with a team-best 6.1 assists per game.
• Luke Knapke is second with 16.6 points, while Spencer Littleson and Willie Jackson add 12.6 and 10.9 points, respectively.
• Jackson also leads Toledo with 12.6 rebounds.
• Toledo averages 79.4 points per game, while allowing 66.8.

COACHING CONNECTIONS
• Bradley's Brian Wardle and Toledo's Tod Kowalczyk are squaring off for the first time since Wardle was a part of Kowalczyk's staff at Green Bay.
• Kowalczyk posted a 136-112 record in eight years at Green Bay (2002-10), including a 92-70 mark in his final five seasons with Wardle as an assistant.
• After Kowalczyk left for Toledo, Wardle took over as head coach and posted a 95-65 record in five seasons with the Phoenix before moving to Bradley in 2015.

HOME SWEET HOME
• Bradley looks to continue its home dominance when its hosts Toledo on Saturday.
• The Braves are a perfect 7-0 at home this season and dating back to last year, Bradley owns an 11-game winning streak at Carver Arena.
• The Braves' 11-game run is tied for the longest in the Valley and the 19th-longest in the nation. It is also the second-longest in Coach Wardle's five seasons on campus (had 14-game run in 2017-18).
• Six of the 11 wins have come by at least 25 points as Bradley is outscoring opponents by an average of 76.0 to 55.9 during the winning streak.

MAGIC NUMBER IS 70
• The number the Braves are looking to avoid is 70.
• Bradley is a perfect 8-0 this season when holding its opponent under 70 points. However, the Braves have lost all four games when allowing more than 70 points in a game.
• Overall, the Braves have won their last 16 contests when allowing fewer than 70 points in a game.
• BU has allowed 56.4 points per game in its eight wins this year, while surrendering 76.5 in its losses.

DEFENSIVE STRENGTH
• The good news is that BU is more than capable of keeping teams under 70 points as the team's defense is again one of the top in the Valley.
• The Braves are allowing only 63.1 points per game in 12 contests this season.
• Bradley leads the MVC and ranks 25th in the NCAA by allowing teams to shoot only 38.1 percent this season. BU is also first in the Valley and 41st nationally with a 3-point defense of 29.1 percent.

NON-CONFERENCE OFFENSE
• On the offensive end, Bradley is enjoying one its best non-conference seasons in years.
• The Braves are averaging 72.1 points per game. Bradley is on pace for its highest non-conference scoring offense since averaging 74.8 in 2007-08.
• In fact, BU has averaged 70-plus points only twice in the past 11 non-conference seasons (18-19, 12-13).
• Overall, Bradley is aiming to finish the season with a scoring offense over 70 for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign (73.8).

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