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50 | 65 |
Bradley (13-8, 7-3) took care of business again against another bad Valley team. Even though Wichita State (9-12, 3-7) kept the game close for awhile, at no point did it feel like the Braves were in danger of losing. Beating the cellar dwellers at home is a necessity for any contender for a conference title. But the chances of actually taking that title may very well be decided in the next two games (at Illinois State, vs. Northern Iowa).
The statistics don't lie. Bradley did just about everything better than Wichita State (FG %, 3PT %, rebounding, points in the paint, fast break points, bench points, etc.). If it weren't for some careless turnovers, which still can be expected with how young this team is, Bradley would have won by 20 or more.
Give head coach Jim Les credit. He's had this team well exceed any fans' hopes coming into conference play considering the injuries to Andrew Warren and Will Egolf. Sure the team has lapses (see: the first three minutes when the Shockers led 6-0), but an overall commitment to team basketball has really allowed this team to thrive.
He's also doing a better job of spacing out the minutes. All nine guys who were in the regular rotation played at least 17 minutes. These splits will help the team grow for the rest of this season, be much more ready for next year and also allow everyone to be a bit fresher as the grind of conference play continues.
Bradley hung not one, but two lengthy scoring droughts on Wichita State (zero points for six minutes in the first half, two points for five and a half minutes in the second). The second of these proved to be the most pivotal sequence of the game.
The Braves led 36-34 with just under 15 minutes to go when a steal by guard Sam Maniscalco ignited the run. The play ended in guard Chris Roberts going to the line and missing both free throws. But senior leader Theron Wilson grabbed a pivotal rebound and scored to put Bradley up four.
The next five possessions included four scores: a 3-pointer by guard Dodie Dunson, a great Sam-to-Sam assist (Maniscalco to Sam Singh), a transition hoop by guard Eddren McCain and another 3-pointer, this one by Maniscalco (who had been having a really tough game from the floor). Bradley also had three steals in that stretch and suddenly the lead was up to 48-36.
The Shockers had one last run in them, cutting the score to 53-44 on a J.T. Durley layup with 5:40 left. But the Braves quickly answered on the next possession with another huge 3-pointer from Dunson. Wilson iced the game by taking a charge and then throwing down a huge tip slam dunk at 4:12.
Dunson, who finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, had another impressive game. Wilson's 11 points and six rebounds also helped in securing the win. But others may have had almost as important of an influence on the outcome.
Maniscalco needs to be recognized, as he had an awful game shooting (2-12 from the floor) but didn't let it affect the rest of his performance. His four assists and no turnovers were especially important because McCain had one of his worst games in awhile. Not only was the Bradley freshman making more inexperienced turnovers, but he also was playing the game too fast and didn't help the Braves get in sync early. Maniscalco helped settle down the team and show more leadership even though he hasn't been starting lately.
Freshmen Taylor Brown and Darian Norris continue to earn more minutes with their athleticism and work ethic. They also make their share of mistakes, but this can be expected at their age. Unless Bradley gets a junior college forward, nothing should stop Brown from having a good chance at being a starter next year.
Next game:
The last two wins have certainly helped to build some confidence going into two of the biggest games of the season. First up: Illinois State. Not only will the Redbirds be out for revenge in round two of the War on 74, but a disappointing loss at Northern Iowa tonight will have the 'Birds extra angry. Instead of moving one game out of first place, now Illinois State could possibly fall into fourth or fifth place in the Valley.
Even though Bradley beat ISU once, don't expect this game to be any easier — not that records matter in the rivalry. These games are generally close, especially at Redbird Arena. And for once, the ISU fans will actually fill the arena, so expect about the usual hostile environment (especially with all the profanity thrown around inside).
The next two will prove how much of a contender Bradley can really be. A split should be a reasonable expectation, but who knows how far the overachieving Braves can go?
Bradley at Illinois State, 3:05 p.m., Sat. 1/31
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