Final Score: Bradley 70 Valparaiso 65

[Afreck2430]

Bradley opens as a 2.5 pt dog tomorrow

[Steve Zalutsky]

I hope we keep the game close tommorrow to give us a chance to win! Win or lose, I'm so happy to see a Bradley/ Drake final!!!! Would love to see us get the AQ bid to NCAA tourney!!!! The NIT would be a letdown, but we probably would get a couple home games. I'm so rooting for Bradley to get a win tommorrow, but no matter, it's been a great year!

[OhRotanes]

Bradley opens as a 2.5 pt dog tomorrow

2.5 dog sounds about right

[egib52]

A couple thoughts about the Bradley 70-65 win over Valparaiso- After beating UIC and UNI the last 2 days, Valparaiso again played much better than any 11th seed team would be expected to play. It took a great 2nd half for Bradley to hold on a win. Bradley shot 60.9% (14-23) overall in the 2nd half and held Valpo to 32.3% (10-31) overall. Bradley's defense made adjustments and was terrific in the 2nd half. Christian Davis, Zek Montgomery, Duke Deen, and Jaquan Johnson played great defense against Valpo's guards. All Wright to 2-10 shooting, and 2-7 from three after he was 7-10 in the 1st half and 4-5 from three.
Christian Davis had a great game offensively, too - 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.
Darius Hannah had a team-high 16 points and 12 rebounds to ensure Bradley's season didn't end tonight.
Ahmet Jonovic had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.
Duke Deen had an off-night offensively, though his only 3-pointer late in the game was a big reason Bradley opened a lead and was able to hold on for the win.
Zek Montgomery was solid, too, scoring 9 points and adding terrific defense.
And the reserve players all chipped in effective minutes.

Box score/stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit..._Box_Score.pdf
Attendance- 7,779 (I would estimate at least half, probably over 4,000 were Bradley fans)

Duke was being guarded all over the court so it was tough for him to get free as they were helping off on him too with bigger players.

[tomahawk chop]

We just need to limit our turnovers, rebound and be aggressive . This is the seniors final chance at going to the big tour.

[daveineureka]

I will be wearing hopefully my lucky sweatshirt that says we won back to back championships in 2019 & 2020. Let's do it. I and my group will be cheering as loud as we can for a BU win.

[Fan since 88]

I believed we would win this tournament before it began, and I still do. It will likely be a low scoring, tight game, as drake milks the clock on offense, but I think we are deeper and will wear them down enough to pull it out late. Go Braves!

[bradleyfan124]

We just need to limit our turnovers, rebound and be aggressive . This is the seniors final chance at going to the big tour.

Make free throws

[bradleyfan124]

I believed we would win this tournament before it began, and I still do. It will likely be a low scoring, tight game, as drake milks the clock on offense, but I think we are deeper and will wear them down enough to pull it out late. Go Braves!

It will be a tough game. However what I think is in our favor is experience at this level. There is alot of pressure in this game..NCAA atmosphere, National TV. We were here last year which should help us.But Drake has not been here with these players. I am hoping the pressure gets to them

[BengalFan14]

We just need to limit our turnovers, rebound and be aggressive . This is the seniors final chance at going to the big tour.

Yep. Rebound. Drake crashes the boards like a big guy at Country Buffet.

[Fetz86]

It will be a tough game. However what I think is in our favor is experience at this level. There is alot of pressure in this game..NCAA atmosphere, National TV. We were here last year which should help us.But Drake has not been here with these players. I am hoping the pressure gets to them

I don't think his D2 guys will be rattled, they won 3 straight conference tourney titles and the program went to their ncaa tourney for a decade straight. Final fours in 21 and 22.

[yoda]

like a big guy at Country Buffet.

you mean like Chase Walker at Country Buffet