PEORIA, Ill. – After winning the first meeting with the Bradley Braves by a 74-65 final score, the Illinois State Redbirds fell in the rematch in Peoria by a 72-64 final score, evening the season series between the two schools.
Antonio Reeves scored 20 points for Illinois State, his 16th 20+-point scoring output of the season, which is tied for the eighth-highest single-season total in program history. Josiah Strong added 12 points, making 4-of-6 long-range tries, while Mark Freeman scored 10 and pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Kendall Lewis scored nine points and had two blocked shots and three steals, becoming the MVC's first 30-steal, 30-block player this season.
The Redbirds have a quick turnaround to their next game, as the 'Birds host the Loyola Ramblers on Monday, February 21, in a rescheduled date from earlier in the season.
ISU scored first before the hosts ran off six consecutive points to push ahead to a 6-2 lead. ISU responded with a 12-0 run and never trailed again for the remainder of the half. Leading by nine with 2:44 to play in the opening half, Bradley closed the opening period on an 8-0 run to close the gap to one heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Redbirds stretched their lead go four at 39-35 with 18:01 to play in the game before the hosts ran off six consecutive points – all on free throws – to lead by two at 41-39. Five consecutive ISU points on a floating jumper by Reeves and a three-pointer by Strong put the 'Birds ahead by three before Bradley scored four straight points – once again on free throws – to re-take the lead. The Bradley lead grew to as many as 11 before ISU trimmed the margin late to as few as six but could not get any closer in the eight-point Bradley win.
Both teams were an identical 21-of-49 from the field, with ISU going 8-of-16 from 3's and 14-of-20 from the charity stripe, while Bradley was 4-of-19 from long range and 26-of-34 from the free throw line.
Bradley was led by Malevy Leons who scored a game-high 21 points while Terry Roberts scored 18 points and Rienk Mast 17.
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