The SMS Bears wrapped up their regular season schedule with a 79-72 loss at Bradley Monday night. Phillip Gilbert torched SMS on Senior Night in Peoria with 31 points, but only ten of those points were the result of field goals. Gilbert was a near-perfect 21-of-22 from the free throw line. As a team, the Braves hit 35-of-40 from the charity stripe and hit 10-of-20 three-pointers. Merrill Andrews led SMS with 18 points, while Monwell Randle added 14. The Bears finished the regular season with a 17-13 record and a 9-9 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. They will be the fifth-seed in this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and will face fourth-seeded Creighton, who they beat by 70-48 on Saturday. Tip-off from St. Louis is 2:35 Saturday afternoon.
