The Valley
Bradley won its third consecutive game after defeating Evansville on the road in overtime, 94-90, keeping pace with Belmont and Murray State among the conference's top three teams. The Braves will enter Saturday's conference matchup tied for second in the MVC standings alongside Belmont. Illinois State, meanwhile, will look to snap a three-game skid and enters the game 4-3 in league play. Both Bradley and ISU rank among the top four in MVC scoring offenses, with Bradley third and ISU fourth. Additionally, two of the conference's top players. Bradley's Jaquan Johnson and Illinois State's Chase Walker are both ranked in the top two of KenPom's prediction for the Larry Bird Player of the Year.

The Bradley Braves
Bradley will look to win its fourth straight when it takes the court at CEFCU Arena early Saturday afternoon. During their recent surge, the Braves' big men have stepped up significantly. Over the last three games, Bradley's forwards have averaged 35.3 points and 23.4 rebounds per game. Guard tandem Jaquan Johnson and Montana Wheeler have also elevated their play, combining for 32.4 points and 6.6 assists per game during this stretch. The Braves have also benefited from strong contributions beyond its usual starters, with Bradley holding a 7-1 record this season when the bench scores 24 or more points.

The Illinois State Redbirds
Illinois State will aim to end a three-game league losing streak after starting 4-0 in MVC play. The Redbirds are 7-1 at home in CEFCU Arena this season and will lean on their core group of four double-digit scorers (Chase Walker, Johnny Kinziger, Ty Pence, and Ty'Reek Coleman). Together, the quartet averages 47 points and 15 rebounds per game. Head coach Ryan Pedon is in his fourth season at the helm and owns a career record of 60-58.

History Says!
History suggests that Bradley and Illinois State always deliver an entertaining contest, often decided in the final minutes. The two teams first met in 1905 at the Peoria YMCA, and central Illinois has been divided ever since. From 1905 to 1928, the teams played at least once annually until NCAA reclassification paused the rivalry. They met again in 1953 and 1957 in Peoria, with the Braves winning both games followed by another hiatus occurred due to classification differences until 1975, when the rivalry resumed in its modern form, with the teams meeting at least once per season.

Bradley leads the all-time series 76-66, while Illinois State holds a 41-25 edge in games played in Normal, IL. The Braves won six of the last ten matchups, including a six-game streak before ISU secured an 82-71 victory in their most recent encounter.

Dave Snell's Top-3 Bradley vs. Illinois State Games
Bradley and Illinois State, two schools separated by roughly 40 miles and sharing 122 years of history, first met in 1905. The "I-74 Rivalry" has produced numerous classic games. According to Bradley radio voice Dave Snell, who has witnessed every encounter since 1975, three of these matchups stand out as the most memorable in the series.