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75 | 67 |
Bradley found out that even "no-name" schools can beat you if you don't play a complete game. Western Carolina used a 20-2 run to erase a nine point second half deficit and stun the Braves at home 75-67.
Though Bradley (5-3) got another big game from sophomore forward Taylor Brown (18 points, 8-of-10 shooting), the rest of the team simply didn't play well enough to beat a tough, undeterred Western Carolina (8-1) team.
Bradley had nine point leads in each half but atrocious free throw shooting allowed the visitors to stay close. For the game, the Braves made only 15-of-33 attempts from the line (57.6 percent). Conversely, Western Carolina came into the game shooting just 56 percent as a team and knocked down 10-of-12 (83.3 percent).
Even as some of the regular problems crept up (like missing too many layups), Bradley still had control of this game. At the 9:49 mark and trailing 56-49, Western Carolina burned a timeout to stop a 13-4 run. But after Brown made a layup on the next possession, everything began to unravel.
The Catamounts scored on six straight possessions before head coach Jim Les took a timeout with 5:46 left. The ugly sequence ended with Western Carolina going on a 15-0 run, tossing in two wild shots and leading 64-58.
The Braves still had a chance with four minutes to play but allowed two critical offensive rebounds and nearly two full minutes to run off the clock. Junior guard Andrew Warren had a chance to tie the game at 69 with a minute to play but his 3-pointer clanked off the rim.
Warren had an ugly shooting performance (3-of-12 overall, 0-of-5 from 3-point range) and senior guard Chris Roberts was even worse (1-of-8). If these two players struggle, generally the team does as well.
If there were any positives to take from the game, it had to be from guards Dyricus Simms-Edwards and Eddren McCain. Simms-Edwards provided his usual energy off the bench, scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds. McCain played with more confidence and didn't commit any turnovers in the reserve point guard role.
Where to go from here
Bradley will have plenty of time to digest this loss as its next game isn't until Dec. 16 against Loyola. Plenty of time will surely be spent on defense and free throw shooting.
Western Carolina isn't a bad team and surely played one of its better games of the season. The Catamounts were picked to win the Southern Conference and may have a really good record going into March.
But Bradley simply can't lose to lower level teams at home if it wants to ever get an NCAA at-large bid. Just like Illinois expects to always beat schools of the caliber of Southern Illinois and Bradley, the Braves should always think that they ought to beat any low-major school, especially on their home floor.
The season certainly isn't lost with one game. But after all of the positive steps forward lately, this one just stings a little bit more.
