Peoria, IL -- The Bradley Braves improved to 2-0 in league play following win over SIU.
The Bradley Braves earned their second Missouri Valley Conference win of the season with a 73-69 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis. The win keeps Bradley unbeaten in MVC play, joining Illinois State, Belmont, and Northern Iowa as the remaining undefeated teams through the first few conference games.
Jaquan Johnson led the way for the Braves, posting 20 points, five rebounds, and five steals. It marked the sixth time this season Johnson has scored at least 20 points, and he has now recorded four or more steals in six contests. Alex Huibregtse was the only other Brave to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points. He also contributed across the stat sheet with six rebounds and five assists. The win was significant beyond the court as well, as head coach Brian Wardle moved into third place on Bradley's all-time wins list with 195 victories, breaking a tie with Chuck Orsborn (194).
Following the loss, Southern Illinois now sits at 0–2 in conference play after narrow defeats to Illinois State and Bradley. Damien Mayo Jr., Rolins Aligbe, and Quel'ron House each finished in double figures, but the Salukis' limited production from beyond the arc (3-of-19) prevented them from making a sustained run. Entering the matchup, SIU ranked among the MVC's best teams in transition scoring, but they were outpaced by Bradley 12–9 in fast-break points. The Salukis also struggled to capitalize on turnovers, scoring just 14 points off takeaways, while Bradley turned SIU turnovers into 22 points.
Both teams will now have time to reset during the winter break. Southern Illinois returns to action on December 29 when the Salukis travel to Murray, Kentucky, to face the Murray State Racers, who are coming off a road win at Valparaiso. Bradley will also return on December 29, hosting the Evansville Purple Aces, who are coming off a one-point loss to the Drake Bulldogs.
The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff at Carver Arena. It will be available for streaming on ESPN+, and fans can also listen to the Bradley radio broadcast on 1470 WMBD with Dave Snell and Chad Kliene.