Bradley used a 16-0 run in the second half to extend a one-point lead to 17 in a 72-52 win Tuesday over visiting Missouri State in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Bears (15-7, 5-4 MVC) all but erased a double-figure deficit before halftime, but after a baseline jumper by Jarrid Rhodes 70 seconds into the second period, MSU saw its offensive well dry up. Meanwhile, Bradley (15-8, 5-4 MVC) started firing on all cylinders to put the outcome in hand.
With 12:33 to play, Elijah Childs ripped an offensive rebound out of the hands of Alize Johnson and put it back in to make it 42-30. On Bradley’s next possession, Darrell Brown knocked down a triple before Koch Barr answered with another BU layup moments later to put the home side up 47-30 with just under 11 minutes to go.
The Braves would eventually lead by as many as 20 as the Braves improved to 11-0 at home.
“We struggled to score,” said MSU head coach Paul Lusk. “They were much better the second half and it just got away from us.”
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