NORMAL, Ill. – Reserves scored all 14 of Bradley’s third-quarter points and scored 20 consecutive for the Braves, but Illinois State used a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to grab a late lead as the Redbirds held on for a 54-49 victory Friday at Redbird Arena.
Both teams struggled offensively, but the bench gave Bradley a spark in the closing moments of the second half and into the third quarter. The Braves (5-12 overall, 1-5 MVC) jumped out to a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Illinois State (4-13 overall, 2-4 MVC) had a pair of three-point plays and a three-pointer during a 12-2 run to start the second quarter to go in front 20-16 nearing the midway point of the period.