Bradley Aims to Extend Winning Streak, Hosts Missouri State

Men's Basketball 2/18/2020 2:58:00 PM

Bradley (18-9, 9-5 MVC) vs. Missouri State (13-14, 7-7 MVC)
Game Details	Wednesday, Feb. 19 • 7 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	FOX Sports Midwest / Indiana / Kansas City \| NBC Sports Chicago Plus
Webcast	FOX Sports GO \| ESPN+
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| Missouri State
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

Bradley men's basketball looks to continue its three-game winning streak on Wednesday, hosting Missouri State at Carver Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago Plus.

PROMOTIONS
• In Kaboom!'s Korner is inflatables from Fun on the Run, including a Bounce House, and Pop-a-Shot.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley is 18-9 during the 2019-20 campaign and is in third place in the Valley standings with a 9-5 record – just one game shy of second place.
• The Braves have won their last three games, posting home wins versus Evansville and Indiana State before a victory at SIU on Saturday.
• Junior Elijah Childs leads Bradley with 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
• Darrell Brown is second on BU with 14.5 points to go with a team-leading 4.4 assists per game.
• Nate Kennell also averages in double figures with 12.4 points – ranking 10th nationally in 3-point percentage (44.4).
• The Braves are averaging 71.0 points per game this season, while allowing 64.5 defensively.

SERIES HISTORY
• Missouri State holds a 39-24 edge in a series that dates back to when the Bears joined the Valley for the 1990-91 season.
• Bradley has won the last two games in the series – posting a 61-58 victory in the 2019 MVC Quarterfinals en route to the title before a 91-78 win at Missouri State in January.
• The 91 points scored by Bradley are its most in the 63-game series as Nate Kennell led BU and matched career highs with 25 points and seven 3-pointers.
• The Braves are 16-13 all-time against the Bears at home – winning two of the last three meetings.

ABOUT THE BEARS
• Missouri State is currently in a four-way tie for fifth place in the Valley standings at 7-7. Overall, the Bears are 13-14 this season.
• The Bears have won their last two games with a 97-62 win against Drake and a 71-58 victory at Indiana State.
• Keandre Cook leads MSU with 14.6 points per game, while Gaige Prim is second on the team with 13.5 points.
• Tulio Da Silva adds 9.9 points to go with a team-leading 7.1 rebounds per game.
• Missouri State averages 68.9 points per game, while allowing 66.9 defensively.

BRAVES THROUGH 13 GAMES
• Fresh off its first Missouri Valley Tournament title in 31 years, Bradley is continuing to rewrite its recent history during the 2019-20 season.
• At 9-5 during the MVC campaign, the Braves own their best conference record through 14 games since the 2000-01 team also started 9-5.

HOME SWEET HOME
• The Braves have played their best basketball at Carver Arena this season.
• Bradley is currently 14-1 in Peoria in 2019-20, outscoring foes by an average of 76.1 to 60.9.
• BU's 14 home wins are tied for the most in the MVC (also Northern Iowa) this season and the fourth-most in the nation.
• With a win Wednesday, Bradley will post its 15th home win for the first time since claiming 16 in 1993-94. Additionally, it will be BU's most home regular-season victories since 1967-68 (also 15).

HOME COOKING
• Darrell Brown has also treated the home fans to his best basketball this season.
• In 14 home games during the 2019-20 campaign, Brown is averaging 16.1 points and 5.5 assists, shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point range.
• During 11 road and neutral games, Brown has totaled 12.4 points and 2.9 assists – shooting 25.0 percent from 3-point range.

WELCOME BACK, ELIJAH CHILDS
• Junior Elijah Childs has picked up right where he left off since returning from injury and has even raised his game a little.
• Childs is averaging 17.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in three games since his return – shooting 54.8 percent from the field.
• BU is a perfect 3-0 with Childs back in the lineup after starting the Valley season with a 6-5 mark.
• Overall, Childs leads Bradley with 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds – shooting 51.6 percent.

CONSISTENTLY TOUGH DEFENSE
• The Braves have consistently made it difficult for their opponent to score this season.
• In just 27 games, Bradley has held its opponent to under 40 percent shooting 17 times – posting a 13-4 record in those games (Drake is second in the Valley with 12 games).
• BU has also accomplished the feat nine times in MVC play (with a 7-2 record) – four more than any other school (Drake and Missouri State).

CRUNCH TIME IS BRADLEY'S TIME
• Bradley has played its best with the game on the line during the Valley season – both offensively and defensively.
• During the last five minutes of conference games, Bradley is shooting more than 25 percent higher than its opponent.
• During the Braves' current three-game winning streak, BU has held teams to just 17.4 percent shooting in the final five minutes (4-of-23).

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Players Mentioned

#5 Darrell Brown: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Elijah Childs: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#25 Nate Kennell: G; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Darrell Brown
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#10 Elijah Childs
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#25 Nate Kennell
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G

Bradley Aims to Extend Winning Streak, Hosts Missouri State

Players Mentioned

#5 Darrell Brown

#10 Elijah Childs

#25 Nate Kennell

Players Mentioned

#5 Darrell Brown

#10 Elijah Childs

#25 Nate Kennell