PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley used an explosive offensive attack to take down visiting Indiana State, 96-67, in front of a crowd of 5,805 fans inside Carver Arena.

ISU fell to 12-12, 4-8 MVC while Bradley improved to 13-12, 5-7 MVC. The Sycamores had won the previous two meetings in the series, including last year's regular season finale in Peoria.

Freshman Cooper Neese led the team in scoring for the second consecutive game as he also set a career-high for the second consecutive game -- this time with 20 points. Neese was 7-of-10 from the field, including a mark of 4-of-5 from long range. Tyreke Key scored 14 points as he went over 50 percent shooting for the seventh consecutive game by hitting 6-of-11 from the field.

Bradley was on fire from the field, hitting 33-of-58 (56.9 percent), including a mark of 14-of-25 (56 percent) from 3-point range. The Braves connected on 9-of-12 from distance (75 percent) in the opening 20 minutes. 

The Sycamores forced 13 Bradley turnovers and converted them into 16 points. Bradley won the rebound battle 44-27.

Bradley hit each of their first three attempts of the game -- all from distance and led 11-0 just two minutes into the game which forced the Sycamores to burn a timeout. Out of the break, Allante Holston hit a short corner jumper and then Christian Williams buried a 3-pointer at the 16:46 mark to draw the Sycamores within 13-5. A 6-0 Bradley run staked them to a 22-7 lead before Cooper Neese hit a long jumper which was followed by a Tyreke Key steal and fast break lay-up to trim the Bradley lead down to 22-11 with just over 12 minutes to go.

A 7-0 Bradley run stretched their advantage out to 29-11 before Bronson Kessinger used his aggressiveness on the boards to visit the free throw line four times and Cooper Neese connected on a corner three with 7:35 left in the half to get the Sycamores within 32-18. Out of the media timeout, Jordan Barnes got on the scoreboard with a driving lay-up to make it 32-20. Bradley would score six in a row before Neese once again connected from deep at the 4:32 mark to cut the Braves advantage down to 38-23.

Holston hit a lay-up with 1:33 remaining but the Braves stayed hot from the floor and took a 54-27 lead into the half. The Braves hit 9-of-12 from distance in the first 20 minutes (75 percent) while ISU was limited to just 8-of-30 from the field (26.7 percent). Cooper Neese led the way at the break with 10 points.

Bradley was led in scoring by Darrell Brown who scored 26 points.

Indiana State remains on the road to face Valparaiso on Wednesday, February 13 to wrap up the two consecutive MVC road contests. Tip-off in Valpo is set for 8 pm (ET) and will be televised on ESPN+.