Box Score Peoria, IL -- Bradley earned a dominant 85-41 victory over Monmouth College in the season opener!
Bradley opened its 2026-27 season with an impressive 85-41 victory over Monmouth on Monday night at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves used a strong surge halfway through the first half to take control and cruised to the 44-point victory.
Bradley jumped out to a 37-19 halftime lead, shooting 41.9 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes while holding Monmouth to just 29.2 percent shooting. The Braves continued to build on their advantage in the second half, outscoring the Fighting Scots 48-22 while shooting 52.8 percent from the floor.
Ben Thornbrue led Bradley with 17 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range. Josh Ibukunoluwa added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Xander Alarie contributed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. Trevon Payton also reached double figures with 12 points, while Dietrich Richardson finished with eight points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Bradley's depth played a significant role in the victory, as the Braves received 33 points from their bench compared to just five for Monmouth. Bradley also held a commanding 45-25 advantage on the boards and forced 17 turnovers, turning those mistakes into 28 points. The Braves added 27 fast-break points and scored 40 points in the paint.
Cameron Thomas paced Monmouth with 11 points, including two three-pointers. Jase Whiteman added eight points, while Zay Brown and LJ Ashby each finished with six. Ashby also contributed six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.
Monmouth struggled offensively throughout the contest, shooting just 32.6 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Fighting Scots finished 15-of-46 overall. Bradley finished the night shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range, while distributing 24 assists on 32 made field goals. The Braves' balanced offensive attack and defensive pressure provided the Braves with the spark needed to build up their lead and see it through to the final whistle.
The Braves will be back in action on November 7th against Pacific at 7:00 p.m. from Carver Arena. The contest will be available for streaming on ESPN+, fans are also encouraged to tune-in to the Bradley Basketball social media accounts.
