Bradley Braves Prepare to Face Belmont Bruins in MBB Showdown
The Bradley Braves are preparing to face the Belmont Bruins in an exciting Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) showdown. This game holds significant implications for both teams, with playoff hopes on the line.
Game Details
- Teams: Bradley Braves (16-9, 9-5 MVC) vs. Belmont Bruins (22-3, 12-2 MVC)
- Date: February 9
- Time: 7:00 PM CST
- Location: Carver Arena, Peoria, IL
- Live Coverage: ESPN+, Bradley Basketball radio, and online statistics
Current Standings
Belmont stands atop the MVC standings, holding a 12-2 record. The Braves currently sit in third place, closely followed by Murray State. Illinois State and UIC complete the top five in the conference.
Previous Encounter
This matchup is the second of the season between these two teams. In their first meeting on New Year’s Day, Belmont secured an 88-78 victory. In that game, Bradley’s freshman Montana Wheeler set a program record by making seven three-pointers. Additionally, the Braves’ defense forced 16 turnovers from Belmont, converting those into 21 points.
Bradley Braves Overview
The Braves are looking to bounce back after a recent loss to the UNI Panthers. Jaquan Johnson remains a key player, ranking third in the MVC for scoring with an average of 16.2 points per game. He also excels in assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking second at 2.6.
- Turnover Margin: Bradley leads the MVC with a margin of +4.56.
- Steals: The team averages 8.24 steals per game, the highest in the conference.
- Three-Point Shooting: Alex Huibregtse leads the MVC with a 41.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, while Montana Wheeler tops all freshmen in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.3.
- Rebounding: Ahmet Jonovic is just outside the top ten in the league with an average of 5.5 rebounds per game.
Belmont Bruins Overview
Belmont enters the game fresh off a six-point win against UIC. In that game, Tyler Lundblade and Sam Orme were standout performers, contributing significantly to the Bruins’ scoring efforts.
- Scoring Leaders: Belmont features four players averaging double-digit points, including Lundblade, Orme, Drew Schanowski, and Nic McClain.
- Field Goal Percentage: The Bruins lead the MVC in overall and three-point field goal percentage.
Coaching and Historical Context
Belmont’s head coach, Casey Alexander, boasts a career record of 299-177. The history between these teams is competitive; Belmont leads the all-time series 4-2 and has won two of the last three encounters played in Peoria.
This upcoming matchup promises to be closely contested, mirroring the nature of past games. Fans can catch the action streaming on ESPN+ with expert commentary and analysis available through the Bradley Basketball radio broadcast.
