Feb. 11, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL -
Illinois State center Levi Dyer scored a career-high 16 points on 5-8 shooting from beyond the arc, but it wasn't enough as Illinois State fell 71-59 to in-state rival Bradley in front of 8,388 fans in Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday at Redbird Arena.
Illinois State drops to 8-15 overall and 3-12 in Missouri Valley Conference play, while Bradley improves to 14-9 overall and 8-7 in Valley Play.
Bradley opened the first half hot on the offensive end, hitting seven of their first sixteen shots. The `Birds were unable to contain Patrick O' Bryant's strong play in the post, as he paced the Braves with 10 points during an 18-5 scoring run to begin the game. However, the Braves went cold, as they only made three of their next thirteen tries from the field.
The `Birds were able to take advantage of the Braves' cold streak as they battled back on their own 19-6 scoring run to tie the game at 24-24 on a three-pointer from Dyer with 7:12 remaining. The `Birds then captured their first lead of the game on 9-3 scoring run, taking the lead 33-27 with 3:33 remaining. After both teams traded baskets, the Redbirds held a 36-33 advantage at the break.
Dyer led the `Birds with 12 points at the half, as he broke his previous career-high of nine points on 4-6 shooting, all from beyond the arc. The Braves were paced by 17 points from O'Bryant, as he continued to cause defensive problems for the Redbirds throughout the first half.
The second half began with five lead changes, with the Braves leading 44-43 on a put back from O'Bryant with 12:26 remaining. However, the Bradley bench was assessed a technical foul following the play, allowing the Redbirds to tie the game again at 44-44. The Braves regained the lead, 56-47, courtesy of a 12-3 scoring run with six points coming from Sommerville, who had 15 points in the second half. The Braves never looked back, going on a 16-7 run to end the game, 71-59.
Adding to Dyer's career-high 16 points, Roberto Fortes recorded a career-high 11 points, while Neil Plank chipped in 13 and Greg Dilligard added 14 points.
Bradley had two players record double-doubles, as center O'Bryant scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while forward Marcellus Sommerville scored 18 points and grabbed 11 boards. Daniel Ruffin also chipped in 16 points for the Braves.
The Redbirds will host Drake in a Missouri Valley Conference game Tuesday, February 14, at 7:05 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
