Terre Haute, IN -- The Bradley Braves earned a multi-overtime win over the Indiana State Sycamores in Missouri Valley Conference action.
The last two meetings between the Braves and Sycamores in Terre Haute had each gone to overtime, with the teams splitting the results, so it seemed only fitting that this matchup would follow suit. The three hour marathon got off to a sprinter's start for Bradley, as the Braves raced out to a 17–4 lead behind Alex Huibregtse's 11 points in the first four minutes. Indiana State responded, battling back to pull within three points with just over five minutes left in the first half. The Sycamores mounted one final push before the break, with Ian Scott and Derek Vorst converting free throws to give Indiana State a five-point lead heading into the locker room.
As the second half began, Jaquan Johnson found his rhythm. The sophomore guard scored 18 of his 20 points after battling foul trouble in the first half. He did not do it alone, as Bradley received major contributions off the bench from Montana Wheeler, Corey Thomas, and Timoty van der Knaap, who combined for 45 points and 23 rebounds. The remainder of the half saw both teams go blow for blow, with the lead changing hands nine times before the end of regulation. Indiana State held a three-point advantage entering the final four minutes, but baskets from Wheeler and Johnson tied the game at 71 with 47 seconds remaining.
After a Johnson drive for two and A.J. Smith splitting a pair of free throws, Indiana State had one final opportunity with under two seconds left, and capitalized. Jo Van Buggenhout, who finished with seven points, caught the ensuing inbound pass in stride and banked in a shot from beyond half court as time expired, forcing overtime.
In the first overtime, Johnson, Wheeler, and Huibregtse traded baskets with Indiana State's Derek Vorst and Xavier Hall. With fewer than 10 seconds remaining, Johnson stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 83 with six seconds left. Camp Wagner attempted to recreate the magic from the end of regulation, but his driving layup fell short as the buzzer sounded after Corey Thomas altered it at the rim.
The trend continued in the second overtime, as neither team led by more than three points. Facing a two-point deficit with 26 seconds remaining, Montana Wheeler hit perhaps his biggest shot of the season, drilling a three-pointer to give Bradley a one-point lead with 16 seconds left. An off-the-ball foul on van der Knaap sent Indiana State to the line, where the Sycamores split a pair of free throws to force a third overtime.
Van der Knaap quickly made amends in the final overtime, scoring seven straight points to push Bradley's lead to as many as five. Needing stops to apply pressure and build a three-possession cushion, Thomas, van der Knaap, and Smith came up with three consecutive defensive stands to seal the victory. Huibregtse and Wheeler iced the game at the free-throw line.
The History Books
The win was a record breaking one for the Braves. Entering the third overtime, Bradley was 0-3 all-time in games that lasted three or more overtimes.
The last time Bradley scored 100 or more points against a Valley opponent was just last season against Indiana State, when the Braves poured in 118 points in Peoria.
The last time Bradley scored 100-plus points in a Valley road game came in 2008, when the Braves fell to Creighton, 111–110, in double overtime in Omaha, Nebraska.
The last time Bradley scored 100 or more points in a Valley true road win was in 1998, when the Braves defeated Southern Illinois, 113–102.