PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley rode the momentum of a 12-point lead five minutes into the game – and an 18-point advantage early in the second half — to a double-figure win over visiting Missouri State here Wednesday, 64-54, in Missouri Valley Conference play.The Bears (14-13, 10-7 MVC) were led by Donovan Clay who scored 16 points, while Alston Mason tallied 14 points and 3 assists. MoState also got help off the bench from Chance Moore who added 11 points, while N.J. Benson racked up a career-high 12 rebounds in reserve.Bradley (20-8, 13-4) kept its share of first place in the Valley standings intact with Rienk Mast and Malevy Leons scoring 11 points apiece.Bradley shot just under 60 percent in the opening half to lead 37-26 at the midway point. The Braves jetted out to a 16-4 lead in the opening five minutes before Chance Moore’s 3-pointer for the Bears calmed the waters.Moore, Clay and Mason combined to drop in four more threes before the intermission, two of which got the visitors within single digits of the lead. Mason’s triple with 5:22 left before the half made it a 29-21 game, but the Braves responded with a 6-0 run of their own to push ahead by 14. Clay scored all five of MSU’s points on a 5-2 Bears’ run before the horn to get within 11 at the break.The Bears would outscore Bradley by a 28-27 margin in the second half and used a 12-4 run to make it a six-point game. Chance Moore started the rally before Mason scored 8 of the next 10 for MoState. Mason’s layup with 9:03 to go made it a 50-44 contest.Bradley responded with five unanswered points to extend its lead to 11 before Dalen Ridgnal splashed home a 3-pointer for the Bears to make it 55-47.Free throws by Clay and Benson would keep the Bears within single digits over the next three minutes but MoState would go nearly seven minutes without a field goal down the stretch before Chance Moore’s electrifying dunk with 44 seconds to go.The Bears finished 20-of-60 (.333) from the field overall, 7-of-32 (.219) from three and 7-of-11 (.636) at the line with a 40-38 rebounding advantage.Bradley was 27-of-61 (.443) overall, 6-of-19 (.316) from three and 4-of-6 (.667) at the stripe with 13 assists and 8 turnovers.The Bears return to Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday to host UNI at 3 p.m. on Hall of Fame weekend.
