PEORIA, Ill. ? For the first 20 minutes of play, Indiana State hung tough with Bradley on the road on Wednesday night, heading into the locker room at halftime down by just five points. However, second half defensive struggles allowed the Braves (12-10, 5-5 MVC) to outscore ISU by 14 points in the half to earn a 63-44 victory over the Sycamores (10-10, 5-5 MVC) at Carver Arena.
The Braves jumped out to an early 4-2 advantage after a bucket by Theron Wilson. However, the Sycamores came right back and went on an 8-0 run to take a 10-4 lead over the next four minutes of play. Sophomore Harry Marshall got the scoring started with a jumper and senior Gabe Moore followed with a layup to give ISU its first lead of the game. Marshall added another layup for the Sycamores to keep the rally moving and junior Jay Tunnell capped the run off with a jumper to put ISU up by six points at the 12:54 mark.
After the Braves went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one at 10-9, sophomore Marico Stinson connected on a jumper to put the Sycamores up by three at 12-9. However, that would be the last point the Sycamores would score over the next four minutes of play, as Bradley regained the lead at 14-12 on a three-pointer by Sam Maniscalco with 7:31 on the clock.
Two free throws from senior Todd McCoy later knotted the game at 14-14 with 6:58 left to play. Bradley came right back and jumped out to a 20-17 lead, before Marshall converted twice from the free throw line to cut the lead to one at 20-19 with 3:34 left in the half. That would be the last point for ISU in the half, as the Braves finished on a 5-0 run, capped off by an Andrew Warren three-pointer, to take the five-point lead at halftime.
Bradley quickly jumped out to a seven-point lead in the second half, before a Stinson jumper cut the Braves' lead to three at 32-29 with 15:40 left to play. Bradley answered by scoring the next seven points to widen its advantage to 10 at 39-29 after a layup by Rashad Austin. The lead would eventually grow to as much as 14 points at 47-33, before ISU cut the lead to eight at 48-40 on a three-pointer by Stinson with 7:42 left in the game.
After a layup by Moore kept the Sycamores within eight points at 50-42 with 6:45 left on the clock, the Braves wrapped up the game with a 13-4 run to secure the 63-44 win over the Sycamores. Marshall led the way for ISU with 13 points and five rebounds, before fouling out with 3:15 left to play. He was joined in double figures by Tunnell with 12 points and six rebounds and Stinson with 10 points to go along with seven boards. Bradley was led by point guard Daniel Ruffin, who tallied 13 points and six assist in the win for the Braves.
The Sycamores return to action on Saturday night, when they head home to the Hulman Center face off against the No. 16 ranked Drake Bulldogs (19-1, 10-0 MVC), with tip off set for 7:05 p.m. EST.
