4 takeaways from Bradley basketball's streak-snapping victory over SIU-E

PEORIA — Duke Deen breathed a sigh of relief.

The Bradley men’s basketball team had just earned a 75-64 home victory against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Thursday night when its starting point guard was asked how important it was for the Braves to snap a five-game losing streak.

“Very important,” Deen answered quickly. “There’s no other way to put it.”

“Very,” echoed Christian Davis, sitting alongside.

BOX SCORE: Bradley 75, SIU-E 64

From offensive flow leading to a career night, to defensive energy borne of a coach’s loving challenge, a couple of tough opposing guards, and unlikely minutes from a reserve, here are four key takeaways from Bradley’s streak-snapping victory in front of 4,875 at Carver Arena.

Bradley's Duke Deen went with the flow

Deen scored a career-high 27 and tied his own best with seven 3-pointers — one shy of the school’s single-game mark set five times, the last by Danny Adams in 2006. Deen’s 22 points in the first half were the most for a Brave since former NBA player Hersey Hawkins in 1988.

“I love it when guys get hot,” Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. “It’s fun to watch when they make shots all over the floor, and the fans love it … Duke’s a fan favorite because he always brings energy and always plays hard. Duke puts in a ton of work off the floor, mentally and physically to get his mind and his body ready to compete at a high level.”

Deen credited the BU offensive flow getting him the ball, including a couple of early assists that helped soften SIU-E's perimeter defense.

One possession late in the first half illustrated this perfectly. Dean started with the ball and passed to Darius Hannah on a pick-and-roll. Hannah decided against a drive and instead found Almar Atlason in the corner, who then found Davis on the wing, who then completed the crisp four-pass sequence by hitting Deen — who splashed in a wide-open 3-pointer. That shot gave BU a 36-30 lead at 2:08 of the first half.

'Just call me Duke': This dynamic Bradley Braves point guard has a story to tell

Deen said Wardle has been helping him rise more vertically on his 3-point shot as opposed to falling backward, something the 5-foot-8 guard says he tends to do because of his size. Dean is 15-for-31 from 3-point range in BU's last four games played without guard Connor Hickman, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Deen was 11-for-48 from 3 in the previous eight games.

“With Hickman out,” Wardle said, “he’s taking on a bigger role. … I’m just very proud of how much he stepped up for us today.”

Bradley was inspired by a coach's challenge

Led by its guards, SIU-E in one stretch of the first half hit 6 of 11 shots to grab a 17-13 lead at 11:55. They also got to the line 10 times before the break. Bradley slowed that in the second half and eventually took control with defense. The Braves held SIU-E to 7-for-28 shooting in the final 20 minutes and 18-for-58 overall.

Reigning Missouri Valley Conference defensive player of the year Malevy Leons met the challenge — literally, according to Wardle. The head coach said longtime assistant Jimmie Foster challenged a few of the Braves at halftime to emerge from the locker room with more energy.

“When a person that cares about you, loves you, challenges you, your character comes out and you respond,” Wardle said. “Those guys he challenged responded.”

Leons started the half with a layup and foul, quickly setting the tone. He redirected and deflected shots and dove to the floor multiple times to help set an overall defensive tone that changed the course of the game. Leons filled his stat line with crooked numbers: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists. Davis and Demarion Burch also appeared more aggressive and focused after halftime.

“All year we’ve been trying to make sure our intensity is high coming out into the second half,” Davis said. “That’s our identity … that reminder at halftime to make sure we do what we do is how we win games.”

Davis also came alive offensively. A pair of putback baskets from Davis put Bradley ahead 66-54 with 5:15 remaining. The next possession, Leons tapped away a pass at half court and led a fast break capped by a Leons assist to Davis for another layup. Davis finished with 14 points and eight rebounds — five on offense.

“We’re a hard-crashing team,” Davis said, “so a couple of those bounced my way.”

SIU-E was fueled by its guard play

SIU-E point guard Demarco Minor stood out on the floor Thursday— and not just because of his neon yellow sneakers. He hit multiple tough shots in the first half and got to the free throw line six times in the first 14 minutes and 10 times overall. He and backcourt mates Ray’Sean Taylor and Shamar Wright combined for 46 points, including 17-for-23 from the free throw line.

“They have guards that can put it on the floor and try to make plays a lot,” Davis said. “We just have to be a little more disciplined … and make them shoot over us instead of bailing them out. We gotta sit down and guard.”

In all, SIUE shot 22-for-30 from the line — an outcome that could have hurt Bradley had it not finally slowed the guards in the second half. The trio scored 18 after the break.

“In the first half, we let them be too comfortable,” Wardle said. “in the second half, we tightened some things up and played a lot better.”

Bradley got big minutes from unlikely spot

Junior guard Cade Hardtke provided a spark for Bradley, who played its fourth game in a row without Hickman.

As Hickman sat on the Bradley bench dressed in a red polo shirt, khakis and white sneakers, Hardtke delivered a career-high 13 minutes — also setting a modest career high in points when his only basket, a 3-pointer, splashed in at the 8:03 mark of the second half.

“His leadership was big for our group,” Wardle said. “His passion was big for our group.”

Bradley next plays Dec. 28 at home against Truman State. Wardle is unsure when Hickman will return but knows the Braves will need him when Missouri Valley Conference play begins on January 3.

“Connor is one of our leaders,” Wardle said. “We’re excited to get him back hopefully soon. Every test he’s had has looked good, it’s just a matter of when he feels like he can play without pain. … We’ll need him in the Valley; that’s the biggest part for us.”

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley Braves basketball beat Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in Peoria