Early Deficit Too Much for Bears to Overcome at Bradley

Wednesday, February 15

Peoria, Ill.

7:00 p.m.

Missouri State University

14-13,10-7MVC

Bradley

20-8,13-4MVC

Team	1	2	F
Missouri St.	26	28	54
Bradley	37	27	64

Early Deficit Too Much for Bears to Overcome at Bradley

February 15, 2023 | Men's Basketball

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By: MSU Athletics Communications

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PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley rode the momentum of a 12-point lead five minutes into the game – and an 18-point advantage early in the second half -- to a double-figure win over visiting Missouri State here Wednesday, 64-54, in Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Bears (14-13, 10-7 MVC) were led by Donovan Clay who scored 16 points, while Alston Mason tallied 14 points and 3 assists. MoState also got help off the bench from Chance Moore who added 11 points, while N.J. Benson racked up a career-high 12 rebounds in reserve.

Bradley (20-8, 13-4) kept its share of first place in the Valley standings intact with Rienk Mast and Malevy Leons scoring 11 points apiece.

Bradley shot just under 60 percent in the opening half to lead 37-26 at the midway point. The Braves jetted out to a 16-4 lead in the opening five minutes before Chance Moore's 3-pointer for the Bears calmed the waters.

Moore, Clay and Mason combined to drop in four more threes before the intermission, two of which got the visitors within single digits of the lead. Mason's triple with 5:22 left before the half made it a 29-21 game, but the Braves responded with a 6-0 run of their own to push ahead by 14. Clay scored all five of MSU's points on a 5-2 Bears' run before the horn to get within 11 at the break.

Bradley scored the first seven points of the second half to extend its advantage before the Bears called a timeout, regrouped and dug in from that point forward.

The Bears would outscore Bradley by a 28-27 margin in the second half and used a 12-4 run to make it a six-point game late. Chance Moore started the rally before Mason scored 8 of the next 10 for MoState. Mason's layup with 9:03 to go made it a 50-44 contest.

Bradley responded with five unanswered points to extend its lead to 11 before Dalen Ridgnal splashed home a 3-pointer for the Bears at the 7:20 mark to make it 55-47.

Free throws by Clay and Benson would keep the Bears within single digits over the next three minutes but MoState would go nearly seven minutes down the stretch without a field goal before Chance Moore's electrifying dunk with 44 seconds to go snapped the cold spell.

The Bears finished 20-of-60 (.333) from the field overall, 7-of-32 (.219) from three and 7-of-11 (.636) at the line with a 40-38 rebounding advantage.

Bradley was 27-of-61 (.443) overall, 6-of-19 (.316) from three and 4-of-6 (.667) at the stripe with 13 assists and 8 turnovers.

The Bears return to Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday to host UNI at 3 p.m. on Hall of Fame weekend. Tickets for the UNI game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or by visiting the box office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during box office hours.

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