- Bradley erases 5-point deficit with critical 11-2 second-half surge
- Darius Hannah records double-double with 16 points/12 rebounds
- Valparaiso's All Wright scores game-high 24 points in losing effort
- Braves advance to face Drake in MVC Tournament championship
In a dramatic Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal, second-seeded Bradley overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Valparaiso 70-65 at Enterprise Center. The victory propels the Braves to their first conference championship game since 2020, setting up a high-stakes rematch against perennial contender Drake.
Bradley's frontcourt dominance proved decisive, with three players combining for 42 points and 25 rebounds. Center Ahmet Jonovic anchored the defense with three blocks while contributing 12 points, showcasing the depth that makes Bradley a dark horse NCAA Tournament candidate. The Braves' 52% second-half shooting contrasted sharply with Valparaiso's 38% field goal accuracy after intermission.
The game turned at the 12:34 mark when Bradley unleashed an 11-2 run over three minutes, flipping a 49-44 deficit into a 55-51 advantage they never relinquished. This marked Valparaiso's fourth consecutive loss in MVC Tournament semifinals, underscoring the program's ongoing challenges in high-pressure postseason scenarios.
Regional Insight: St. Louis' Enterprise Center continues to solidify its reputation as a neutral-site tournament host, drawing 12,000+ fans and generating an estimated $4.2M local economic impact. Historical data shows MVC Tournament winners receive 78% higher NCAA Tournament bid probability, adding urgency to Bradley's championship pursuit.
Industry Trend: Mid-major conferences like the MVC are seeing 22% more upsets since 2020, attributed to expanded transfer portal usage. Bradley's success exemplifies this shift, with six rotation players joining via transfers in the past two seasons.
As Bradley prepares for Drake, all eyes will be on their perimeter defense – the Bulldogs average 9.3 three-pointers per game. Sunday's championship matchup could hinge on whether MVC All-Defensive Team member Connor Hickman can contain Drake's sharp-shooting guard Tucker DeVries.