Braves Host Evansville on Saturday

Men's Basketball 1/19/2018 3:59:00 PM

Bradley (13-7 , 3-4 MVC) vs. Evansville (12-8, 2-5 MVC)
Game Details	Saturday, Jan. 20 • 7 p.m. • Peoria, Ill. • Carver Arena
Television	ESPN3
Radio	1470 WMBD
Game Notes	Bradley \| Evansville
Game Coverage	Live Stats \| Twitter: @bradleyumbb \| Instagram: @bradleyumbb
Tickets	Ticketmaster \| (309) 677-2625

The Bradley basketball team returns to Carver Arena on Saturday, where it owns the MVC's longest home-court winning streak, hosting Evansville. The school are set to tip off at 7 p.m.

PROMOTIONS
• The Jesse White Tumblers are set to appear during halftime of Saturday's game.
• In Kaboom!'s Korner is a Bounce House and additional inflatables from Fun on the Run.
• Also, the second Braves Club Pre-Game Party is Saturday from 5-7 p.m. in Theater Lobby at Carver Arena. Free admission to Braves Club members with one entrant per membership card (guests are $10 and must be accompanied by member). The party will include complimentary beer, wine, soda and snacks.

ABOUT THE BRAVES
• Bradley is 13-7 during the 2017-18 season with a 3-4 record in Missouri Valley Conference action.
• The Braves are 3-0 at home in MVC play but 0-4 on the road in conference action – losing its last two games to Loyola and Illinois State.
• Sophomore Darrell Brown leads Bradley with 13.1 points and 4.1 assists per game.
• A balanced squad with eight players averaging at least five points, Donte Thomas and Nate Kennell are second and third on BU in scoring with 10.2 and 9.0 points, respectively.
• Thomas also leads the Braves with 6.7 rebounds per game, while Elijah Childs is second with 5.8.
• BU is averaging 67.4 points, shooting 43.0 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from 3-point range.
• The strength of the team is on defense where BU features the nation's 17th-ranked unit, allowing only 63.2 points per game, 39.4 percent of field goals and 31.2 percent from 3-point range.

SERIES HISTORY
• The Braves own a 28-23 all-time edge versus the Purple Aces, including a 19-5 edge at Carver Arena.
• The series has largely been dominated by the home team with the host schools combining to win 36-of-49 games (73.5 percent).
• Evansville ended a two-game losing streak in the series earlier in the year with a 68-44 home win, while BU posted an 84-72 win at home last year.

ABOUT THE PURPLE ACES
• Evansville is 12-8 this season with a 2-5 record in MVC play.
• The Purple Aces have lost their last two games, falling at Drake and to home against Indiana State.
• Ryan Taylor leads the team in scoring with 20.4 points per game.
• Dru Smith is second with 13.4 points, while leading the Aces with 5.0 assists per game.
• Dainius Chatkevicius leads the team with 5.4 boards per game.
• Evansville averages 67.9 points per game – ranking fourth nationally with a 3-point clip of 42.4 – while allowing 65.1 points per game.

CARVER STREAKING
• Bradley puts its undefeated home record on the line against Evansville as BU has opened the 2017-18 season a perfect 9-0 at Carver Arena.
• In fact, Bradley has won its last 11 home games dating back to last season – the longest active streak in the MVC and BU's longest since a 15-game run in 2006.
• The run started on Feb. 18 last season with an 84-72 win versus Evansville.
• The Braves secured their first unblemished home mark in non-conference play for the first time since the 2006-07 season with a 6-0 record,
• BU then followed by winning its first three MVC home games for the first time since 2004-05.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
• The lone senior on the roster, Donte Thomas is determined to finish his career on a strong note.
• Thomas has raised his game during conference play with 13.3 points per game in its first six MVC games, while shooting 60.3 percent.
• The 13.3 points per game for Thomas mark a 4.8-point improvement from non-conference.
• In MVC games only, Thomas is 13th in points, third in rebounds, third in field goal percentage and second in free throw percentage.
• Thomas now ranks second on the team with 10.2 points, while leading Bradley with 6.7 rebounds.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
• While Donte Thomas has been a key contributor and has saved his best for last, Bradley is still largely a team carried by its underclassmen.
• Three of BU's top four scorers are freshmen or sophomores, while six of nine players averaging at least 10 minutes are underclassmen.
• Overall, the underclassmen account for 64.9% of points, 53.1% of boards, 70.4% of assists, 63.0% of blocks and 64.9% of steals.
• Bradley ranks 268th nationally (of 351 schools) in basketball experience with 1.40 average years – 10th in the MVC.

Print Friendly Version