How Bradley fell to Missouri State 71-69 on 3-point shot at buzzer

PEORIA — Jayson Kent and Malevy Leons helped Bradley put Missouri State on the ropes Wednesday in the final seconds.

But their efforts ended with a gut punch as the Bears got a desperate 3-point heave from guard Isiaih Mosley as time expired to beat Bradley, 71-69, in a Missouri Valley Conference battle before 3,756 in Carver Arena.

"A rollercoaster ride," Leons said quietly afterward. "We battled back so hard, we got on top ... it just stinks."

Down the hall, Mosley was demonstrating the pose he struck after shooting that 3 as time expired.

ANALYSIS: Takeaways from Bradley basketball's heartbreaking buzzer-beating loss

"I knew it was gonna go," he said. "When I do this (demonstrating his shooting pose) I know it's gonna fall.

"They came back on us, and we stayed in the huddle and told each other to stay calm until the end."

The game's biggest stars were background lighting in this game until Mosley's game-winner. He had just 11 points. Gaige Prim had eight points.

Bradley guard Terry Roberts' only points came on a second-half 3 with 9:02 left. He had 4 turnovers in the game's first 5:30.

The Braves fell back by as much as 15 in that first half, then began a fierce comeback in the final minute when Ville Tahvanainen hit a 3 with 44 seconds left.

Then Kent stole the ball and raced in from midcourt to dunk it home with 10 seconds left and send Bradley to the locker room down 41-33.

The Braves again fell back, trailing by 18 just 2:34 into the second half. But they answered with a 10-0 run, with 3s from Tahvanainen and Rienk Mast and a jumper from Kent over a stretch of 2:03 to close to within 56-51 with 13 minutes left.

"I was proud of four guys -- Kent, Leons, Rienk Mast and Tahvanainen," Bradley head coach Brian Wardle said. "They got us into position to win this game."

Kent had a putback off a Roberts miss with 6:10 left to get Bradley within 60-58.

Leons drained a 3 from the right corner for 63-63 with 3:50 left.

Leons next battled with an opponent and absorbed a blow to his throat that left him on all fours, choking. He got up, ran down the court, and slashed to the rim with a dazzling move to give Bradley a 65-63 lead with 3:02 left.

Kent delivered a putback for a 67-65 lead with 65 seconds left.

Missouri State tied it on a corner 3 from Ja'Monta Black with 48 seconds left.

Kent answered with a pair of free throws to give BU its last lead, 69-68, with 24 seconds left.

The Braves had their hands on the ball in a battle for a rebound seconds later, but couldn't hang on. Mosley made them pay.

"A lot of gray hairs coming for me this year," Wardle said. "Our fifth or sixth game like this, couldn't close it."

By the numbers

• Bradley slipped to 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the Valley.

• Missouri State improved to 11-5 and 2-1.

• Bears guard Lu'cye Patterson had a game-high 20 points.

• Gaige Prim and Isiaih Mosley combined for 19 points.

• Bradley got three points and five turnovers from guard Terry Roberts.

• Roberts and Leons each had eight rebounds and Kent had 7.

Bravely Speaking

Bradley senior forward Ja'Shon Henry missed his fourth straight game with a head injury, suffered when he was tomahawked to the floor on a flagrant foul in the Saint Joseph's game 19 days ago. ... Bradley is expected to announce on Thursday that the 2022 Bradley Hall of Fame induction ceremony, scheduled for Feb. 19, has been canceled due to continuing concerns with the pandemic. ... Bradley head coach Brian Wardle was honored before the game for his 100th win at the BU helm in the Sun Bowl Invitational championship win over UTEP on Dec. 22. ... Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins was guest at the game and sat courtside.

What to watch: How Bradley basketball matches up with Missouri State

9:58 p.m.: FINAL: Missouri State 71, Bradley 69

Missouri State's Isiaih Mosley hits a desperation 3 from the right wing as time expires to beat Bradley 71-69.

Braves had led 69-68 on a pair of Jayson Kent free throws with 24 seconds left.

9:42 p.m.: Bradley ties it up

Malevy Leons knocks down a 3 from the right corner to pull BU into a 63-63 tie with 3:50 left.

9:35 p.m.: Bradley within 4, Roberts on the board

The Braves had four possessions over the next five minutes but couldn't score.

Roberts finally got on the board with a step-back 3 to pull BU within 58-54 at 9:02. It's only his third attempted shot of the game.

9:20 p.m.: Bradley makes a run

The Braves are on an 11-0 run, with 3s from Ville Tahvanainen and Rienk Mast and a jumper from Jayson Kent over a stretch of 2:03 s to close to within 56-51 with 13 minutes left.

BU scoring leader Terry Roberts somehow has no points and five turnovers in 13 minutes through this point.

9:07 p.m.: VIDEO LOOK-IN

Halftime quick interview with Bradley head coach Brian Wardle as he heads to the locker room with his team.

Halftime: Missouri State 41, Bradley 33

The Braves won back some momentum in the final minute when Ville Tahvanainen hit a 3 with 44 seconds left.

Then Jayson Kent stole the ball and raced in from midcourt to dunk it home with 10 seconds left and send Bradley to the locker room down 41-33.

8:43 p.m.: Prim and Mosley rolling

Gaige Prim and Mosley took 'em through a 14-4 run late in the half. combining for 10 points in a stretch of 6:10 while Bradley had 3 turnovers and shot 2 of 7.

That left the Braves looking at a 38-23 deficit with 2:45 left.

8:30 p.m.: Missouri State opens 11-point lead

Isiaih Mosley's step-back jumper gave Missouri State a 30-19 lead with 7:46 left in the first half, topping a 23-11 run over a stretch of 8:13.

Ja'Monta Black had 8 points during that run. Bradley was 4 of 9 from the field.

8:21 p.m.: Missouri State builds a lead

Bears jump ahead 17-12 with 11:35 left as Bradley has trouble taking care of the ball. BU with six turnovers in first 8:25. Terry Roberts had four turnovers in first 5:30.

8:12: Mast comes out hot

Bradley center Rienk Mast hit back-to-back 3s to give BU and early lead. Missouri State climbed into a 9-8 lead with 15:42 to go.

8:05 p.m.: Bradley Hall of Fame ceremony

Bradley will announce in the next day or so that the 2022 Bradley Hall of Fame induction ceremony, scheduled for Feb. 19, has been canceled due to ongoing unknowns from the pandemic,

7:46 p.m.: Lineups

Bradley moves swingman Jayson Kent into the starting lineup. He joins guards Terry Roberts and Connor Hickman and forwards Rienk Mast and Malevy Leons.

Missouri State opens with guards Mosley, Patterson and Black and forwards Prim and Clay,

7:16 p.m.: Update on Bradley lineup

Bradley senior Ja'Shon Henry is not in warmups and will miss his fourth straight game with a head injury.

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: How Bradley fell to Missouri State 71-69 on 3-point shot at buzzer