Bradley Hosts In-State Rival Loyola Wednesday

Men's Basketball 2/8/2022 10:00:00 AM

Bradley (13-11, 7-5 MVC) vs. Loyola (18-4, 9-2 MVC)
Game Details	Wednesday, Feb. 9 • 8 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	CBS Sports Network
Radio	1470 & 100.3 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| Loyola
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

The Bradley basketball team returns to Carver Arena, renewing its rivalry with Loyola on Wednesday night, presented by Benningfield. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

PROMOTIONS
• ZOOperstars inflatable mascots are set to perform at halftime of Wednesday's game.
• Additionally, one lucky fan will have a chance to go home with a brand-new car, presented by Scherer Lincoln Volvo, in a Putt to Drive contest.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley is 13-11 during the 2021-22 season with a 7-5 record in Missouri Valley Conference action.
• The Braves have won five of their last six games and are coming off a 35-point victory at Evansville.
• Junior Terry Roberts leads BU with 15.4 points per game and 4.5 assists per game.
• Sophomore Rienk Mast is second on BU with 11.3 points, while leading the MVC with 8.2 rebounds.
• Junior Malevy Leons also scores in double figures with 10.0 points per game.
• Bradley averages 71.8 points per game, while allowing 65.3 defensively.

SERIES HISTORY
• The Braves hold a 36-32 all-time edge against the Ramblers in a series that dates back to 1928.
• The schools have combined to win the last four MVC Tournaments – each claiming two titles (2019 & 2020 for BU; 2018 & 2021 for Loyola).
• The Ramblers have won the last five games in the series against the Braves, including a 78-71 overtime contest in Chicago earlier this season.

ABOUT THE RAMBLERS
• Loyola is 18-4 during the 2021-22 campaign and currently has a half-game lead in the Missouri Valley standings with a 9-2 record.
• Lucas Williamson leads the Ramblers with 13.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
• Braden Norris is second on the team with 10.0 points, while leading Loyola with 4.2 assists.
• The Ramblers average 74.4 points per game, while allowing 62.0 defensively.

TRENDING UP
• The Braves have been one of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference over the last three weeks – winning five of their last six games.
• Bradley is outscoring foes by 12.0 points during the run, while shooting 10.0 percent higher.
• Additionally, Bradley's 5-1 record is the best in the Valley since Jan. 18.

DOMINANT VICTORY
• The Braves are coming off one of their most complete games of the season – a 76-41 victory at Evansville on Saturday.
• The Braves set their season highs against Division I schools in margin of victory (35), rebound margin (+23), 3-pointers made (12) and field goal percentage defense (27.1%).
• Additionally, the 35-point victory is the second-largest road win in school history (defeated North Texas, 110-72, in 1961).

REBOUNDING RANKINGS
• Bradley has controlled the glass during the 2021-22 campaign.
• The Braves lead the Valley and rank among the nation's best in rebounding – collecting 39.4 per game to place 35th in the country, while placing 20th in the NCAA with a rebound margin of +7.0.
• Bradley's 39.4 rebounds per game are its most since 1987-88 (40.5), while its +7.0 margin is its highest since 1963-64 (+10.7).

LEADER OF THE PACK
• Sophomore Rienk Mast has not only led the Braves on the glass but also the Valley.
• Mast ranks first in the Valley and 62nd nationally with 8.2 rebounds.
• In 70 seasons as a member of the Valley, only three Braves have previously led the league in rebounds – Chet Walker (1961-62), Luke Jackson (1988-89) and Marcellus Sommerville (2003-04).

BENCH PRODUCTION
• The Bradley bench was at its best in Saturday's 35-point win.
• Bradley received a season-best 38 points from reserves (11 more than any other game) with 2-of-3 players who scored in double figures off the bench (Ari Boya and Ville Tahvanainen).
• Receiving bench scoring has been key to success as BU is 9-2 in its last 18 games with 15 or more points from reserves but just 3-4 with fewer.

KENT FINDING HIS RHYTHM
• Another player that is quietly putting together a strong season is sophomore Jayson Kent.
• Kent led Bradley in scoring on Saturday with 14 points. He has now scored 26 points in his last two games on 10-of-15 shooting (66.7 percent).
• The sophomore has scored in double figures in 10 games this year after doing so twice as a rookie.
• Overall, Kent is averaging 8.0 points this season – double his rookie-season total – and is third on the team in Valley play with 9.1 points.

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