Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Defeats Illinois Springfield, 93-64

Box Score (PDF)

Men's Basketball 11/4/2021 11:11:00 PM

Peoria, Ill. – The Bradley men's basketball team opened the 2021-22 season with a convincing exhibition victory against Illinois Springfield, never trailing en route to a 93-64 win on Thursday night at Carver Arena.

Four Braves scored in double digits in the winning effort. Sophomore Rienk Mast tallied a game-high 18 points to go with six boards. Junior Malevy Leons and freshman Connor Hickman also eclipsed 10 points in their Red & White debut. Leons scored 15 with seven rebounds and three assists, while Hickman added 14 points. Sophomore Jayson Kent rounded out the double-digit efforts with 12 points.

Junior Terry Roberts paced the attack with seven assists, while sophomore Darius Hannah led BU with eight rebounds and three blocks.

Hickman scored the game's first five points as Bradley raced out to a 7-0 lead and forced an early timeout by the Prairie Stars. Illinois Springfield forced one tie at 10-all only for Bradley to answer with a 12-3 run before eventually moving in front by double digits, 31-19. The BU lead was never less than 10 for the remainder of the game as Hickman paced Bradley with 12 first-half points and a 44-30 advantage.

The Bradley lead would reach as many as 30 points in the second stanza before securing the 93-64 exhibition victory.

The Braves shot 50 percent in the winning effort, including an 11-of-25 mark (44.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Bradley also held a 29-7 advantage in points off turnovers and a 24-7 edge in second-chance points.

Bradley officially opens the 2021-22 campaign next Tuesday at South Dakota State. First tip is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

Game Notes: Bradley improved to a perfect 8-0 under Coach Wardle in exhibition games … The Braves' 93 points are their most in an exhibition since a 105-82 victory against Quincy in 2007 … All 16 Braves saw action in the victory with 11 different players scoring for BU.

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