Kristian Ferrell
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team has a dedicated fanbase and has enjoyed a number of successes. The Braves have made it to the Final Four of The Basketball Tournament, with their alumni team, Always a Brave, making it to the final. The team has also won games against Truman State and Illinois State, and advanced to the MVC title game against Drake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the basketball team | Bradley Braves |
| Gender | Men's team |
| Match | Defeated Truman State in a non-conference game |
| Score | 69-47 |
| Player performance | Connor Hickman scored 2 points; Duke Deen scored 13 points; Darius Hannah performed a no-look alley-oop |
| Previous performance | Went 1-3 in the four games Hickman missed due to injury |
| Current performance | Second consecutive victory |
| Season performance | 8-5 |
| Previous tournament performance | Made it to the MVC tournament in the 2020-21 season and the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament |
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What You'll Learn
Bradley Braves' victory over Truman State
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team secured a 69-47 victory over Truman State in a mid-season exhibition game at Carver Arena in Peoria. This win marked the Braves' second consecutive victory, thanks to their resilient defence and ability to force turnovers in the second half.
The Braves' success was built on a strong defensive foundation, with particular emphasis on perimeter defence. Their ability to consistently play tight defence and disrupt Truman State's rhythm contributed to their triumph. Malevy Leons, the Bradley senior forward, led the Braves with an impressive performance, scoring a game-high 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Freshman guard Demarion Burch and sophomore centre Kyle Thomas also made notable contributions to the victory, showcasing their talent and potential. Burch aggressively pursued rebounds, grabbing five offensive boards and six total rebounds in the game. Meanwhile, Thomas grabbed four rebounds and scored five points in just eight minutes of play, demonstrating his efficiency and impact on the game.
The Bradley Braves' victory over Truman State was a testament to their defensive prowess and the depth of their roster, with players like Burch and Thomas stepping up to make a difference. This win also served as a confidence booster for the team, helping them find their rhythm and shake off any rust from the Christmas break.
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Bradley Braves' MVC title game against Drake
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team faced off against the Drake Bulldogs in the MVC Tournament Championship game on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The Braves entered the game with a 26-7 record, having gone 17-5 in the MVC, while Drake boasted an impressive 29-3 record, with a 19-3 regular-season tally, claiming the MVC regular-season title.
The game was highly anticipated as both teams were among the top-two in the regular-season standings, and the winner would secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Braves and Bulldogs had split their previous two matchups that season, with each team winning on the road, adding further intrigue to the title game.
Bradley's veterans, seniors Duke Deen and Darius Hannah, had been crucial throughout the season, making multiple game-winning plays. In the game against Valparaiso, which secured their spot in the MVC title game, Ahmet Jonovic and Jaquan Johnson stepped up with big plays. Jonovic's defensive efforts against Cooper Schweiger were also notable, as he altered and denied shots from the All-MVC selection.
The Braves' X-factor could be forward Darius Hannah, who emerged late in the season with impressive averages of 15.5 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game over his last six games. The team's strong second-half performances and ability to get to the free-throw line were also factors in their success.
The outcome of the MVC title game against Drake was not found. However, one source mentions that the Braves fell to Drake for the third straight year.
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Bradley Braves' Valley win over Illinois State
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team has had several notable wins and achievements in recent years. In February 2023, the Braves achieved a significant Valley victory over their rivals, Illinois State. Led by Netherlands natives Rienk Mast and Malevy Leons, the Bradley Braves dominated the game, resulting in a final score of 79-61. This win marked the Braves' fifth consecutive victory and placed them in a three-way tie for the Missouri Valley Conference lead.
The Braves' success in the 2022-2023 season extended beyond their triumph over Illinois State. They also snapped a four-year drought by defeating Valpo in the tournament opener, advancing to the MVC tournament. Additionally, the women's basketball team ended a long streak of their own, achieving their first conference tournament victory under head coach Kate Popovec-Goss.
One of the standout players of the Bradley Braves is Malevy Leons, who consistently delivered impressive performances. In the game against Illinois State, Leons scored a game-high 21 points, showcasing his offensive prowess. Leons also contributed four rebounds, a steal, and two blocked shots, demonstrating his all-around versatility. Rienk Mast, another key player, achieved his seventh double-double of the season, with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bradley Braves' victory over Illinois State was a testament to their teamwork and determination. The team started strong, taking an early 7-0 lead, and maintained their momentum throughout the game. Illinois State, on the other hand, struggled with turnovers and shooting accuracy in the initial stages. Despite a strong performance by Illinois State's Seneca Knight, who scored 19 points, the Braves' defense and resilience paid off, resulting in a well-deserved win.
While the Bradley Braves have had notable successes, they have also experienced setbacks and losses. In a game against Illinois State in February 2025, the Braves fell short despite a flurry of late 3-pointers, losing to their rivals. Foul trouble and an array of calls hindered their performance, and they were unable to close the gap, ultimately resulting in a defeat.
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Bradley Braves' players and their achievements
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team has had several notable achievements over the years. The team first debuted in the 1902–03 season with no coach and no home court, but eventually rose to become Bradley University's most successful team. The Braves have played in 37 post-season tournaments, winning the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) four times and finishing as runners-up in the NCAA, NIT, College Basketball Invitational (CBI), and CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) on various occasions. They have also made nine appearances in the NCAA tournaments, reaching the national championship game twice, the Elite 8 three times, and the Sweet 16 four times.
In the 1940s, the Braves qualified for the 1947 NIT, losing to West Virginia in the quarterfinals. In 1950, they won the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and earned a bid to the NCAA tournament, advancing all the way to the National Championship game, where they lost to CCNY. In the 1955–56 season, under the leadership of coach Chuck Orsborn, the Braves won their first NIT championship, defeating Memphis State. They returned to the NIT in 1958 and reached the championship game again in 1959, but lost to St. John's. In 1960, the Braves claimed their second NIT championship title by defeating Providence. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Chet Walker was a key player during this era.
The Bradley Braves women's basketball team has also achieved success. In 2023, the team snapped a four-year drought by defeating Valpo in the first round of the conference tournament. This marked their first conference tournament victory under head coach Kate Popovec-Goss, and they advanced to face top-seeded Murray State. The Bradley Braves men's basketball team has also had recent successes, such as defeating Truman State in a non-conference game in December 2023. Notable players in recent years include Connor Hickman, Darius Hannah, and Duke Deen.
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Bradley Braves' coach Brian Wardle
Bradley Braves is the men's basketball team of Bradley University, currently coached by Brian M. Wardle. Born on October 9, 1979, in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Wardle graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 1997, where he earned two all-state basketball honours and broke school records for scoring and rebounding. After high school, he played for Marquette University from 1997 to 2001, under head coaches Mike Deane and Tom Crean. Over four seasons, Wardle played in 117 games with 93 starts, and ended his college career as Marquette's third-highest all-time leading scorer.
Wardle then played in the NBA Developmental League and the Continental Basketball Association before becoming the director of basketball operations at Marquette in 2003. He was an assistant coach at UW-Green Bay from 2005 to 2010, and after the 2009-2010 season, he was named head coach at UW-Green Bay, becoming the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. In 2014, he was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year. In 2015, he took the coaching job at Bradley University, leading the Braves to a 5–27 record in his first year.
On March 10, 2019, Wardle led the Bradley Braves to the NCAA Tournament by winning The Missouri Valley's “Arch Madness” Tournament, defeating Northern Iowa 57–54. This was the Braves' first conference tournament championship since 1988 and their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006. In a game against Truman State, Wardle praised his squad's defence, particularly their ball pressure and improved performance in dealing with the Bulldogs' screening action. The Bradley Braves also won the rebounding battle, with players like Demarion Burch and Kyle Thomas making notable contributions.
In addition to his role as head coach, Wardle also leads basketball camps and clinics at Bradley University to help players improve their skills.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Bradley Braves men's basketball team has made it to the final four.
The name of the coach of the Bradley Braves men's basketball team is Brian Wardle.
The score when the Bradley Braves men's basketball team made it to the final four is not available. However, in a game against Illinois State, the Bradley Braves raced to a 9-0 lead and never looked back, eventually winning the game.
Some notable players on the Bradley Braves men's basketball team include Rienk Mast, Malevy Leons, Darius Hannah, Duke Deen, Ahmet Jonovic, and Jaquan Johnson.
Some notable achievements of the Bradley Braves men's basketball team include advancing to the MVC title game against Drake and defeating Truman State in a non-conference game.
