Peoria, IL -- Separated by 40 miles but joined by 120+ years of history, the Bradley Braves 17-3 (8-1 MVC) and Illinois State Redbirds 12-8 (4-5 MVC) are set to add the 139th chapter in their long-standing rivalry.

Game Information
Bradley Braves 17-3 (8-1 MVC) vs Illinois State Rebirds 12-8 (4-5 MVC)
Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 25th •  1:00 PM CST
Live Coverage: CBS Sports Network | Live Stats | Radio 
Location: Carver Arena
All-Time Series: Bradley leads 73-65 (48-22 in Peoria)

Setting the table
Very few schools have played Bradley more than the Illinois State Redbirds. With 138 all-time meetings, the rivalry has been a staple of the Missouri Valley Conference and the central Illinois area since the two programs first met in 1905. Currently, Illinois State is Bradley's third most-played opponent, behind Drake (163 meetings) and Wichita State (141 meetings). To date, according to the MVC and Bradley record books, the series is led by the Braves 73-65, with Bradley having won the last five games in the series. BU owns a 48-22 record in the series when playing in Peoria. On the floor, both teams do similar things well, namely shooting the three-pointer. Bradley and Illinois State are currently two of the top five teams in the country in three-point field goal percentage, with the Braves ranking first and the Redbirds ranking fifth.

About the Braves
Bradley is fresh off a two-game road trip against Murray State and Belmont, where the Braves went 2-0 and find themselves sitting in first place in the MVC standings with a record of 8-1 in league play. The Braves' strong run of play over the past two weeks has been due in large part to their great blend of complementary basketball. While Bradley's offense has rightfully earned much of the attention this season, their defense has really turned it up. BU currently ranks in the top three of the MVC in each of the following categories: Opponent PPG (2nd), Opponent FG% (1st), Opponent 3FG% (1st), Steals per game (3rd), and Blocks per game (2nd). In terms of on-the-floor production, the Braves have seen solid contributions from their bench unit, with Jaquan Johnson, Corey Thomas, and Connor Dillon averaging a combined 32.1 PPG over the last three games. The Bradley starters also haven't been missing their marks often. Christian Davis is fresh off his second double-double in four games, and Duke Deen, Zek Montgomery, and Darius Hannah have also been averaging double-figure scoring, with all of them shooting better than 36% from the floor.

About the Redbirds
Illinois State is in the third year of the Ryan Pedon era, with a career head coaching record of 38-46. The Redbirds currently sit in 7th place in the MVC standings, behind Murray State at 5-4, and a pack of three teams tied for third place at 6-3 (UIC, Belmont, UNI). On the floor, ISU is led by a duo of 14+ PPG scorers: #11 Johnny Kinziger and #35 Chase Walker, who are averaging a combined 29.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 4.6 APG. Walker is 5th in the MVC in PPG at 14.8, while Kinziger is 8th at 14.5 PPG. This season, ISU has done a good job of limiting turnovers, currently owning the third-lowest total in the MVC with 218, or 10.9 turnovers per game. Keeping Illinois State off the free-throw line has also been difficult for teams this season, with Chase Walker drawing the third-most fouls in the MVC, and Kinziger leading the MVC in FT% at just over 90%.

Where it stands
The Braves 8-1 start in MVC play sits as one of their best starts in program history, with this being only the 7th time that Bradley has achieved an 8-1 start, and the first time since 1993-94. Overall BU's 17-3 mark ties for 7th best in program history having last hit that mark in the 1961-62 season. 

BRADLEY'S BEST NINE-GAME STARTS TO MVC PLAY
1. 1985-86 (9-0) **Finishes 16-0 in MVC
2. 1993-94 (8-1)
    1961-62
    1959-60
    1956-57
    1949-50
    2024-25

BRADLEY'S BEST 20-GAME STARTS TO A SEASON
1. 1985-86 (19-1) 
    1959-60
    1947-48
4. 1958-59 (18-2)
    1950-51
    1946-47
7. 1961-62 (17-3) 
    1956-57
    1949-50
    2024-25

Other Notes
Darius Hannah and Zek Montgomery continue their pursuit of 1,000 career points, Hannah sits just 33-points away with Montgomery 116-points away. Hannah also this season will have the chance to own the record for most games played at Bradley. He currently sits at 135 games, five behind Gene Melchiorre.

CAREER GAMES AT BRADLEY
1. Gene Melchiorre (1947-51) 140
2. Darius Hannah (2020-Pres) 135
3. Sam Singh (2004-10) 134
    Nate Kennell (2016-20)
5. Paul Unruh (1946-50) 133