Murray, KY -- The Bradley Braves 15-3 (6-1 MVC) will face a two-game road trip through next Tuesday that will see them meet the Murray State Racers 10-8 (4-3 MVC) and Belmont Bruins 13-5 (5-2 MVC).
Game Information
Bradley Braves 15-3 (6-1 MVC) at Murray State Racers 10-8 (4-3 MVC)
Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 18th • 3:00 PM CST
Live Coverage: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio
Location: CFSB Center
All-Time Series: Series tied 9-9 (MSU leads 4-1 in Murray, KY)
Setting the table
First to meet the Braves will be the Murray State Racers. Murray State had won three straight games before dropping their last contest at UIC in double overtime, 97-93. The Racers had previously completed a road sweep of the "Iowa Schools," beating Drake in Des Moines 66-59 and Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls 71-68. On the other side, Bradley has won seven of their last eight games and is coming off a historic offensive night when they defeated Indiana State 118-65 in Peoria. The matchup with Murray State will feature two of the Missouri Valley's best guard tandems. Duke Deen and Zek Montgomery are averaging 28.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 6.2 APG for Bradley, with both shooting over 42% from the floor. Meanwhile, Murray State's Jacobi Wood and Terrence Harcum combine for 25.0 PPG, 6.9 APG, and 5.3 RPG, with both shooting over 37% from the floor.
About the Braves
Bradley has been tough on the road this season for MVC foes, with wins at Southern Illinois, UIC, and Indiana State. BU's three road wins in league play lead the conference, with five teams sitting behind the Braves with two road MVC wins. On the floor, BU's bench unit has come to life over the last few games, with Jaquan Johnson, Corey Thomas, and Connor Dillon all having quality outings. Last time out, BU received 59 points from their bench, the highest of the season by far, bringing the Braves' total bench points for the year to 405 out of 1,460 (28% of the season's total points). As a result, BU now sits at 15-3 overall and 6-1 in league play, which ties for the 2nd best start in MVC play in BU history (previously done 12 times, last in 1994-95). BU's 15-3 overall start is tied for the 7th best overall start in program history (previously done five times, last in 1989-90).
About the Racers
Murray State, after starting the year a little slow, has now won four of their last six games and is 5-2 at home with a 2-1 mark at home in MVC play. Murray State is led by Steve Prohm, who is in his 13th overall season as a head coach (240-167). This is his 3rd year of his second stint at Murray State after a few seasons as the head coach at Iowa State. Murray State features a very balanced offensive attack, with four players averaging between 11-13 points per game. Jacobi Wood is the most notable name, coming in as an All-MVC Preseason 1st Team selection. The Racers brought in several new faces this past offseason, but the Braves will know one of them well—AJ Ferguson, a transfer from Southern Illinois, where he played the last two seasons for the Salukis.
