Journal Star sports reporter
@DaveReynolds2
ST. LOUIS — All Donte Thomas needed was to sustain a gash above his right eye and several ensuing stitches to get himself going Thursday.
Thomas, held scoreless in the first half, scored a game-high 17 points in the final 20 minutes to ignite Bradley to a 67-58 victory over Drake in the play-in round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
"(Catching an elbow) kind of woke him up," said BU coach Brian Wardle. "He got the hot hand, and we kept trying to feed him."
Thomas scored eight of the Braves' first 10 points to start the half, but it was two shots down the stretch that really propelled the Braves.