Final score: Bradley 70 SIU 62

[Da Coach]

Bradley's next game is Saturday, Jan. 22, against SIU at Carver Arena, starting at 7 pm.

TV- ESPN+ - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/...arch%3Aresults
Live Stats- https://bradleybraves.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Chat room: www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans

Bradley is now 9-10, and 3-4 in the MVC after their win at Drake. SIU is 10-8, and 3-3 in the MVC.
SIU was picked 5th in the preseason MVC poll, just ahead of Bradley-
https://mvc-sports.com/news/2021/10/...-favorite.aspx

SIU website- https://siusalukis.com/sports/mens-basketball
Stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...binepdf_2_.pdf

In MVC conference games, SIU is the #1 3-point shooting team, averaging 41.7%. And they are the #1 3-point defensive team, holding opponents to 31.1%.
Bradley is #2 in 3-point defense at 34.3%
MVC Conference-only stats- http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/team-conf.pdf

[braves16]

We need to put our best defensive player on Marcus Domask. SIU seems to go as he goes.

[Da Coach]

We need to put our best defensive player on Marcus Domask. SIU seems to go as he goes.

Domask is SIU's leading scorer. He averages a team-leading 15.9 ppg overall, but he's averaging 18.5 ppg in 7 MVC games. He had one of his worst games last night in their 63-55 win against Indiana State. He scored just 8 points on 2-9 shooting.

Last season, with the unique Covid schedule, Bradley played both games against SIU in Carver Arena on back-to-back nights (Feb. 6 & 7, 2021).
Domask had suffered a season-ending injury a month before those games, and did not play in either game against Bradley.
Bradley won the first game 74-66 behind Terry Nolan's season-high 23 points. But SIU won game two 69-68.

One of the few changes on this year's SIU team is new player Ben Coupet, Jr. He played high school basketball in Chicago at Simeon HS, and initially went to UNLV. He spent 3 seasons at UNLV (one was a redshirt year), but he played very little and averaged only 1.3 ppg during his time at UNLV.
He transferred and played the last 2 seasons at Little Rock, where he averaged 10.8 ppg over the 2 seasons. And this season as a grad student at SIU he is 3rd on the team with an average of 11.2 ppg.
Ben Coupet, Jr.'s father, Ben Coupet, Sr. played for Bradley for two season (1994-95 & 1995-96). He was recruited by and played for Bradley coach Jim Molinari. In two seasons at Bradley, he appeared in 52 games and averaged 2.9 ppg and 2.1 rpg in limited playing time before leaving Bradley to seek professional playing opportunities.

[LittleBrave]

Gotta ride the wave from the last big win.
Get to 4-4 and anything can happen. Certainly puts us in prime position to finish at least middle pack in a tough league this year.

SIU won last year at Carver - it was a close game. Time for a li'l PAYBACK!

These Braves have been fun to watch so far in league play.
Despite some tough losses, and a few bad halves, we keep gelling as a team.
Stay on the path and these guys will be really fun to watch in March!

[Tommy]

It's weird, when I think of SIU I just think our team is on another level than them, but I thought the same thing about ISU. Let's hope that game was the kick in the butt they needed to get us on track. The win against Drake was certainly a huge one!

[Bradley3342]

It's weird, when I think of SIU I just think our team is on another level than them, but I thought the same thing about ISU. Let's hope that game was the kick in the butt they needed to get us on track. The win against Drake was certainly a huge one!

I agree totally Tommy!

[Da Coach]

Bradley pregame article-

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2022/1/21/mens-basketball-bradley-hosts-southern-illinois-saturday-night.aspx

BU Game Notes- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...n_Illinois.pdf

SIU article-

https://siusalukis.com/news/2022/1/21/mens-basketball-travels-to-bradley-for-saturday-night-matchup.aspx

SIU Game Notes- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...at_Bradley.pdf

[MacabreMob]

Line is Bradley favored by 4 1/2

[Tommy]

Mast leading the valley in rebounds! Nice!

[elmerb]

If we stay focused for 40 minutes, and play the basketball we are capable of playing, we can beat anybody in the Valley. No more excuses that we are a "young team". Be determine to go out and kick SIU's butt tonight, from the opening tip and don't let up. Send a message to the rest of the Valley. Play hard and play smart.

GO BRADLEY

[Da Coach]

Final score: Bradley 70 SIU 62

https://bradleybraves.com/sidearmstats/mbball/media

[Big Mike]

Solid win for the Braves.

[basketball nut]

Great win tonight, another total team game resulting in a big win

[Da Coach]

Another complete 40 minute effort with no long lulls in the offense or defense, and no long scoring droughts. Bradley never trailed in winning 70-62, and evening their record at 4-4 in the MVC.

Box score- https://bradleybraves.com/documents/...llinois_62.pdf
Attendance 3,987- the highest attendance of the season

Rienk Mast with another terrific game- 20 point, 9 rebounds, and no turnovers
Terry Roberts also with a great game- 18 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, one steal, 3 blocks, and only 1 turnover,
Connor Hickman was solid in a team-high 32 minutes, though only 4 points. But he played good defense, especially in the 2nd half, and had just 1 turnover.
Malevy Leons- 7 pints, 8 rebounds, and nice defense, especially on Domask, who had to work for his points.
Jayson Kent also didn't score much, but played good defense.
Ari Boya- 6 points and 6 rebounds in his 13 minutes.
And another nice game by Ville- 13 points, and 3-4 from three.

This team seems to finally be coming together and playing consistently on offense and defense.
Next game- Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Valparaiso.
Bradley is now 10-10, and 4-4 in the MVC.
MVC Standings-

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/18

[Tommy]

Filewich is really good for SIU and Mast couldn’t seem to stop him. Luckily, Ari’s bigger frame and longer arms seemed to put him out of his game and honestly, Boya put out a great defensive effort tonight.

Once again, 70 was our magic number. Uncanny how that seems to work out. Making FT’s was the difference in this game.

Let’s keep rolling!