Bradley basketball puts its extended home win streak on the line against new MVC foe

Dave Eminian, Journal Star
·3 min read

PEORIA — The Bradley Braves will return to their comfort zone in hopes of getting back into a familiar place Saturday in a New Year's Eve day game.

Bradley comes home to host the University of Illinois Chicago Flames for the first time as a Missouri Valley Conference opponent, in a bid to get back into the win column.

The Braves have won 14 straight at Carver Arena, one shy of the 10th-longest home win streak in school history.

The longest home win streak at Carver Arena in Bradley's history is 27 (Feb. 6, 1993 to Jan. 19, 1995). Bradley has won eight straight home games against MVC opponents.

The Braves last loss at home was a buzzer-beater to Missouri State in a 71-69 decision on Jan. 5, 2022.

More:Bikes, socks and video games: Holiday memories from the Bradley basketball team

Bravely Speaking

The Braves are expected to add 7-foot-1 Serbian player Ahmet Jonovic to fill their open scholarship spot. ... Bradley's MVC road game at Drake at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 will air on ESPNU. ... Bradley is 5-0 all-time at home against UIC. … The Braves rank No. 1 in the MVC in scoring defense, allowing 59.7 points per game. … The Braves lead the Valley in steals (112) and opponent field goal percentage (38%). … UIC was picked 11th in the MVC pre-season poll of coaches and media. … The Braves are second in the Valley in 3-pointers at 36% made. … Bradley fifth-year forward Ja'Shon Henry needs to average 8.1 ppg over the next 18 games to reach 1,000 career points. He is the Braves active career scoring leader with 853 points. ... UIC earned its first Missouri Valley Conference win Wednesday with a 55-51 home decision over Illinois State. ... The Flames' Toby Okani had 7 blocks in that win over ISU. ... Bradley's free throw attempts — three — in a 63-60 loss at Belmont on Wednesday was the third-lowest free throws in a game in BU program history. ... Kids 12-under get a free ticket at the Civic Center box office to Saturday's 1 p.m. Bradley game, as part of the facility's New Year's Eve celebration.

Illinois-Chicago at Bradley

  • When: 1 p.m. Saturday

  • Where: Carver Arena, Peoria

  • Watch: Bally Sports Midwest, NBC Sports Chicago.

  • Listen: WMBD-AM 1470, FM 100.3

  • Records: Bradley, 9-5 (2-1), 2nd in MVC. UIC, 9-5 (1-2), 7th in MVC.

  • All-time series: Bradley, 6-2.

  • NET ranking: Bradley, No. 69. UIC, No. 243.

  • KenPom ranking: Bradley, No. 87. UIC, No. 252.

  • Coaches: Bradley, Brian Wardle (8th season). UIC, Luke Yaklich (3rd season).

  • Players to watch: UIC: 6-5 G Jace Carter team-best 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 23 steals; 6-8 G Toby Okani 13.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 20 blocks; 6-1 fifth-year G Tre Anderson, 12.0 ppg, 50 assists. Bradley: C Rienk Mast 13.6 ppg and 8.0 rpg; F Malevy Leons 11.3 ppg, 6.0 ppg and MVC-best 22 blocks and 25 steals; F Ja'Shon Henry 9.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg; G Duke Deen 11.0 ppg, team-best 43a, 36.5% from 3.

Recruiting analysis:Bradley has an open roster spot. Here's how the Braves will fill it

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley home win streak on line against Illinois Chicago of MVC