At the Athletics Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Indiana, Valparaiso Beacons outlasted the Bradley Braves in the second half to earn a 79-72 conference win.

The two teams were locked in a tight battle early, heading into halftime tied 35-35 after Bradley shot a blistering 60 percent from the field and 70 percent from three in the opening 20 minutes. The game featured four ties and four lead changes, reflecting the back-and-forth nature of the contest.

Bradley was fueled by Alex Huibregtse, who poured in 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. Jaquan Johnson added 14 points, while AJ Smith recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Braves finished 12-of-24 (50 percent) from three-point range and forced 15 turnovers, converting them into 16 points.

However, Valparaiso was able to just outlast a Bradley comeback bid with under four minutes remaining. The Beacons shot 54 percent from the floor in the second. JT Pettigrew led the charge with 22 points and five rebounds, going 6-of-7 at the free-throw line. Rakim Chaney contributed 13 points and five assists, while Brody Whitaker knocked down three three-pointers on his way to 12 points.

Valparaiso controlled the paint (28 points to 22 points) and capitalized on the limited second-chance opportunities, holding a 12-7 edge in that category. Valpo made a concerted effort to get to the Free throw line (20-of-33), the Beacons generated enough offense late to create separation and secure the seven-point victory.

Bradley will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Illinois State Redbirds inside Carver Arena. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start time on ESPN2 with Clay Matvick and Kevin Lehman on the call. Bradley Basketball fans can also tune into the Bradley Basketball radio broadcast on 1470 WMBD with Dave Snell and Chad Kleine.