PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Men's Basketball took down Illinois State on Saturday night at Carver Arena by a final score of 48-45. 

The Braves and Redbirds were tied up at 21 after the first half. Both teams shot below 30% from the field in the half in a highly contested defensive battle. Bradley held Illinois State to 0-for-8 from beyond the arc in the half. 

21 all at halftime pic.twitter.com/EAG77HUcT7
— Bradley Basketball (@BradleyUMBB) February 25, 2024
 

"As long as we played defense, I felt like we were going to win the game," Duke Deen said. "Sometimes the ball just doesn't go in. [We] just have to find ways to win."

Bradley defeated ISU on Saturday night with a final score of 48-45. The Braves made seven three-pointers in the game and recorded 39 rebounds. Defensively, Bradley had five blocks and five steals with 11 induced Illinois State turnovers. They also had 10 bench points and 10 fast break points to ISU's zero. 

An old fashioned. Knock down. Weight room win pic.twitter.com/p8E5CvdV3U
— Bradley Basketball (@BradleyUMBB) February 25, 2024
 

"I loved that win," head coach Brian Wardle said. "That is a grind it out, end of February, Arch Madness-type win. We needed a win like that."

 

Deen led the way for Bradley with 11 points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds. Malevy Leons recorded nine points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Almar Atlason sank two three-pointers and had seven points. 

🗣️LET IT FLY ALMAR pic.twitter.com/7Cvo5qdD7J
— Bradley Basketball (@BradleyUMBB) February 25, 2024
 

Darius Hannah tallied seven points with eight rebounds in the game. Connor Hickman and Christian Davis both collected five points. Off the bench, Connor Linke played 17 minutes and scored two points with eight rebounds, a career high. 

"Linke did a good job for us," Wardle said. "He was physical for us off the bench [as a] senior."

Coach Wardle also earned his 250th career win on Saturday night against the Redbirds. Wardle is fifth all-time in games played at Bradley and fourth in MVC wins. 

With tonight's victory, Brian Wardle has reached 2⃣5⃣0⃣ 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 as a head coach‼️ 🏀 pic.twitter.com/6Sa0viY9Zq
— Bradley Basketball (@BradleyUMBB) February 25, 2024
 

Looking Ahead

Bradley stays at home for their next game against Southern Illinois on Feb. 28 at 7 PM. The last game of the regular season is on Mar. 3 at Drake at 2:30 PM. Arch Madness begins on Mar. 7 in St. Louis, Mo. 

Tickets

Tickets for the last home game of the season against SIU can be found here. 2024 MVC All-Session Tickets can be purchased here or call (309) 677-2625.