TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Redshirt junior Cooper Neese hit a deep three as the shot clock expired and with 12 seconds remaining to help Indiana State basketball to a 76-71 victory over Bradley Sunday afternoon at Hulman Center. The win pushed ISU's home winning streak to 11 games as the Sycamores improved to 8-6 overall and 1-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
Down three starters (Bledson, Henry and Wilbar) due to COVID-19 protocols, ISU picked up strong efforts from Neese and freshman Micah Thomas (18) who led ISU in scoring. A Cloverdale, Indiana native, Neese shot 5-for-10 from deep and came away with several baskets at the end of possessions en route to 12 second-half points. Thomas was hot at the end of the first half, scoring ISU's last five points, including a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Sycamores a 43-41 lead heading to the locker room.
 
With his five made baskets from deep, Neese moved into a tie with Chad Adkins (1996-99) for eighth all-time in career 3-pointers (149). Guard Tyreke Key sits in seventh with 153 career threes.
 
Zach Hobbs added 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds while Kailex Stephens put in 14 points and secured four rebounds. Not as flashy in the box score, but someone that changed the game drastically was guard Julian Larry. The Frisco, Texas native scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds, and assisted on two ISU makes. On the defensive end, Larry held Bradley's best player -- Terry Roberts – 8-for-18 shooting and 19 points.
 
A back-and-forth game early Bradley was able to take advantage of seven early turnovers, turning the ISU miscues into 14 points in the first half. The Braves used an 8-0 run to push their lead to 32-21 with 7:32 remaining in the half before ISU began to chip away at the deficit. Fueled by the defense, ISU was able to go on a 9-0 run that saw baskets made by Neese, Thomas, Hobbs as well as two free throws from Larry to force a BU timeout.
 
Hobbs put ISU out in front 33-32 with his third 3-pointer of the half on a fast-break basket before Bradley was able to end the run.
 
The Sycamores struggled out of halftime as Bradley scored seven of the first nine points to regain control. The shorthanded Sycamores continued to battle before Neese ignited an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer. Stephens capped off the run with an and-one opportunity on a turnaround jumper to put ISU ahead 58-50.
 
Bradley adjusted and went to a 2-3 zone on the defensive end, and it worked as the Sycamore offense was held at bay and the Braves chipped away at the lead eventually going on top 60-58. Hobbs once again came up with a shot from deep to pull ISU to within one point at 62-61 at the 7:28 mark.
 
Neese tied the game with 4:49 left to play before Larry put ISU ahead for the final time with a layup on the break with 4:04 remaining. BU connected on a 3-pointer to cut the Sycamore lead to 68-66 with 2:29 but Neese would hit two more shots from behind the arc and Thomas iced the game with free throws to give first-year head coach Josh Schertz his first career win in the MVC.
 
ISU struggled with Bradley's size as the Braves outrebounded ISU 43-33, but stout defense in the second half was the difference as ISU held the BU to 34.3 percent (12-35) from the field in the final 20 minutes.
 
Roberts led Bradley with 19 points and six assists, while also adding seven rebounds. Malevy Leons registered a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Connor Hickman also scored in double figures with 10 points.
 
ISU wraps up its five-game homestand Wednesday evening when the Sycamores host rival Evansville at 7 p.m. ET. Fans wishing to purchase tickets can do so by clicking HERE, by calling 877-ISU-TIXS, or by visiting the Hulman Center Ticket Office.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Basketball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.