Peoria, IL -- The Bradley Braves rallied late to claim a 75-68 win over the Indiana State Sycamores
While shots didn't fall at a high rate for Bradley, the Braves dug deep and rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final minutes to earn a home win over the Indiana State Sycamores. The victory moves Bradley to 7-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play and solidifies its hold on third place in the standings. Indiana State, meanwhile, falls to 2-7 and sits in 10th.
Jaquan Johnson and Alex Huibregtse led the Braves offensively with 18 and 13 points, respectively, while AJ Smith, Timoty van der Knaap, and Ahmet Jonovic anchored the effort on the glass. That trio combined for 20 rebounds, seven steals, and one block. Although shot selection wasn't much of an issue, Bradley endured stretches where quality looks simply didn't fall, finishing the night shooting 35 percent from the floor and 23 percent from three. The Braves made up for it by attacking the rim, scoring 30 points in the paint and earning 31 free-throw attempts, converting 26 of them.
Indiana State was paced by a trio of double-figure scorers in Ian Scott, Sterling Young, and Bruno Alocen, who accounted for 38 of the Sycamores' 68 points. As a team, Indiana State shot over 50 percent from the field, but ball security proved costly especially late as the Sycamores committed 19 turnovers that led to 22 Bradley points. Both benches contributed as well, with the Braves receiving 21 points from their reserves while Indiana State's bench added 29.
The Final Minutes
Indiana State appeared in control through the closing stretch, highlighted by Hunter Harding's dunk at the 6:17 mark that pushed the Sycamores ahead by eight. From there, momentum began to swing. Missed jumpers and untimely turnovers allowed Bradley to chip away, with Johnson and Smith delivering key plays in transition and at the free-throw line. Bradley's defensive pressure forced steals and rushed shots, cutting into the lead possession by possession.
The final two minutes belonged to Bradley. Smith's layup trimmed the deficit to one, and Jonovic's free throw with 47 seconds remaining tied the game at 68. From that point on, the Braves took control at the stripe, turning late fouls and fast-break chances into points. Indiana State missed multiple three-point attempts in the closing seconds, while Bradley remained composed, closing on a decisive free-throw run to secure a 75-68 comeback victory. In total, The Braves ended the game on a 15-0 run over the last 6:00+ minutes which included eleven straight defensive stops.