Cedar Falls, IA. The Bradley Braves 17-8 (10-4) complete the regular season sweep of the Northern Iowa Panthers 12-12 (8-6) with a final score of 77-69. This is first time BU has swept UNI since the 2005-06 season.
Game Recap
Bradley and UNI met on the hardwood for the second time this season, this time in Cedar Falls, IA where Bradley was looking to extend it's 3-game win streak and UNI was looking to bounce back after back to back losses. The story of the night would be how well Bradley would shoot the 3-point shot and the lack of outside success for UNI. Bradley set the record for made 3-pointers by a road team against UNI with 16 made 3-point FGs.
Bradley controlled much of the first half and built up a 10 point advantage heading into the locker room,
Duke Deen and
Connor Hickman led the BU offense with both collecting double digit points in the first half, both with multiple made 3-pointers. Hickman would finish the night by collect a career high in scoring with 17 points and five made 3-point FGs and three steals, meanwhile Deen would end with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
As the second half waged on both UNI and Bradley would swap scoring runs which saw the lead Bradley lead range from two points all the way to 11 points. Big moments came early in the second half for the Braves as UNI trimmed the BU lead down to just five points, but
Zek Montgomery with the shot clock winding down connect on a three pointer in the corner to extend the BU lead back to eight points. The key for Bradley defense was limiting Bowen Born, and they did exactly that. Born in his previous game against Drake recorded 30 points but tonight was held to 11 points on 3-11 shooting from the floor against Bradley.
With neither team giving an inch in the second half Bradley would once again need to answer a surge by the UNI Panthers. After a made basket by UNI,
Connor Hickman proceeded to bring the ball up the court and drill a momentum changing 3-point shot to bring BU back up nine. The damage in large part was done behind the arc for Bradley with the 16 made shots from downtown converting into 48 of Bradley's 77 total points. Five different Braves would record multiple made three pointers with Leons, Montgomery, Hickman, Deen, and Mast. Mast and Leons continued their strong form with the two Dutchmen combining for 37 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks.
Bradley would close out the game with
Duke Deen and Malvey Leons making some free throws down the stretch after a couple empty trip by the Panthers. This win gives BU their 10th in Missouri Valley Conference play and keeps them in a tie for 1st place with Belmont, and Drake for the time being with Southern Illinois and Missouri State set to play tomorrow night.
What's Next
Bradley will be back in action when they make the short trip down I-74 to Normal on Wednesday night for a matchup with the Illinois State Redbirds. Bradley won the previous matchup back in Peoria in OT. Illinois State was in action against the Belmont Bruins tonight and fell 90-75 in Nashville.