Peoria, IL -- The Bradley Braves will meet the Evansville Purple Aces in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Game Information
Bradley Braves 9-4 (2-0 MVC) vs Evansville Purple Aces 4-9 (0-2 MVC)
Date & Time: Monday, December 29th | 7:00 PM CST
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Location: Carver Arena, Peoria, IL
All-Time Series: Bradley leads 40-24
The Valley
Early in the Missouri Valley Conference portion of the season, five teams remain undefeated with Belmont, Bradley, Illinois State, Murray State, and UNI. Bradley's Jaquan Johnson was named the conference's Player of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 20.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.0 SPG, and 3.0 RPG in a 2-0 week against Indiana State and Southern Illinois.
The Bradley Braves
The Braves will look to build on their 2-0 start in league play and close out 2025 on a high note when they face the Evansville Purple Aces. Since November 26, Bradley has held five of its last six opponents to fewer than 70 points and is a perfect 6-0 during that stretch. In conference play, the Braves are forcing an average of 13.5 turnovers per game and scoring 19 points per game off those turnovers. Opponents have found little success inside Carver Arena, as Bradley owns an 82-19 home record since the 2019-20 season, including a dominant 47-9 mark over the past three years.
Head coach Brian Wardle recently moved into third place on Bradley's all-time wins list and now sits just two victories shy of tying Joe Stowell for second place. Stowell recorded 197 wins while coaching the Braves from 1965 to 1978.
The Evansville Purple Aces
Despite a 4-9 record, Evansville has proven to be a tough out for many teams this season. The Purple Aces have played five games decided by five points or fewer, posting a 1-4 record in those contests. That includes narrow losses in their first two MVC games against Belmont (83-78) and Drake (66-65).
Evansville is led by reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year Connor Turnbull, who is averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. The Purple Aces also feature a balanced offensive attack, with seven players averaging between 5.9 and 9.1 points per game. Head coach David Ragland is in his fourth season at the helm and owns a career record of 37-75 at Evansville.
History Says!
Bradley holds a 40-24 all-time advantage over Evansville and is 27-5 against the Purple Aces in Peoria. The Braves have won 14 of the last 16 meetings between the two programs. Since 1986, 14 games in the series (22 percent of the all-time matchups) have been decided by five points or fewer.
