'I came out mad': Bradley guard starts hot, leads Braves to big win over Northern Iowa

dave eminian, peoria journal star

Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 8:48 AM·10 min read

PEORIA — Connor Hickman got mad at Indiana State, then got even at Northern Iowa's expense Wednesday in a bounce-back basketball game for the Bradley Braves.

Hickman, stinging from the Braves overtime loss on the road to the Sycamores last weekend, took it out on UNI with a stirring performance in an 85-69 victory that allowed Bradley to keep pace with the MVC's top teams.

Hickman banged down a 3 on the Braves opening possession, hit another on their second possession, put up 16 points in the first half and finished with 22 on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range.

BOX SCORE: Bradley 85, UNI 69

"You always got to have a bounce-back game after something like Saturday happens," Hickman said. "That was an emotional loss for us. We got mad.

"Well, I came out mad tonight."

Hickman hit 3s on the Braves' first two possessions, and had eight points in the game's first 2:38.

"We went to him to start this game, get him going faster," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. "He was in attack mode. In rhythm early. I thought he played really well, defended really well. When he's aggressive like that we're tough to guard."

For Hickman, it was some words from Wardle before the game that he took to heart.

"Coach Wardle told us before the game, 'Confidence is power,' " Hickman said. "I thought about that. I spent months, going back to last summer, working and preparing for this season, I've invested a lot in getting to this point.

"That first shot I got, I've taken that shot 1,000 times. The coaches have done a great job building up my confidence. I know they believe in me."

Believing in Malevy and Darius

Bradley's Malevy Leons, top, tangles with UNI's Jacob Hutson (11) for a loose ball in the second half of their Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria.

The Braves won an inside war with Northern Iowa, out-scoring the Panthers 30-20 on a big game by Darius Hannah in the middle. He had 12 points and nine rebounds — and also blocked five shots. The Braves defense piled up seven blocks and nine steals against a UNI team that combined for just four.

Leons, meanwhile, poured in 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and hit a dagger 3 at the buzzer to send the Braves to halftime up 46-30. He finished the night at 994 career points, closing in on becoming the 53rd player in Bradley's history to reach 1,000.

"Getting to 1,000 points was one of my goals coming into the season," Leons said. "I'm almost there. More important, we're playing top-4 teams in the league and we have to meet that challenge. You always want to win. Can't lay back in the Valley."

They didn't. The Braves played with purpose and confidence and were focused on UNI.

"I'm proud of the team, that was an emotional game (at Indiana State), our last game was a tough loss," Wardle said. "We had chances, obviously, to win it. I thought the hangover from that game is scary for coaches.

"We moved on the next day, prepared for UNI. To come in here and get this win was big for us, after the last one."

Braves were in control

Bradley's Duke Deen, right, directs his teammates against UNI in the first half of their Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria.

The Braves blasted off to a 12-2 lead and were in control the entire game, leading for all but 15 seconds and never trailing. The Panthers stayed 6-12 points down most of the game. They made little runs at Bradley, but every time the Braves answered and put the game back out of reach:

• Bowen Born's 3 pulled UNI to within seven points at 16:49 of the first half. Leons answered with a 3 to shove it back to 10.

• UNI got it down to six points, and Bradley answered with a pair of free throws from Kyle Thomas, a jumper in the paint from Hickman and a jumper from Demarion Burch for a 21-9 lead at 13:06.

• UNI closed to within four, and Bradley answered with a jumper from Duke Deen, and a steal and layup from Hannah for a 27-19 lead.

In the second half, the Braves never let UNI get closer than nine.

"We had a great start … finished the half well with that big 3 by Malevy," Wardle said. "We had that lead, almost gave it back at times, but we ended up always coming back with a big shot, big play."

The Braves are in the hunt

Bradley left Carver Arena on Wednesday night at 8-3 in the Valley for third place. Indiana State had to rally at Belmont for a 78-72 win to move to 10-1. Drake is 9-2. UNI and Southern Illinois are 6-5.

The Braves own wins over UNI and SIU, setting up a big 3 at the Valley's top.

"There's 4-5 teams I think can win Arch Madness … we have to stay healthy, get Duke feeling good," Wardle said. "We got to stay healthy. That's going to be a key to this (next) month.

"One game at a time. Let's keep improving certain areas. Stay consistent in preparation, work ethic, mental approach."

They said it

Bradley head coach Brian Wardle gives some directions in the first half of their Missouri Valley Conference basketball game against UNI on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria.

• Wardle credited his scout team and the intensity of practices this week as a key to handling UNI: "Very competitive, our scout team was tremendous (Tuesday). There was some confrontation between players in practice, challenging each other, and that promotes growth. When you walk outside those lines everybody is back to being a close-knit family. That's exactly what happened tonight."

• Wardle, on the 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks produced by Hannah: "Darius had some huge catches and finishes for us. Rock solid again, very efficient."

• Wardle, on the Braves piling up a combined 16 blocks and steals to UNI's four while winning the physical play in the paint: "We're not a big, physical team, in body weight. We're strong for our weight. But we're long, and that shows in our blocks and steals."

Bravely Speaking

The Bradley Braves celebrate a three-pointer against UNI in the first half of their Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria.

Bradley improved to 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the Valley. UNI slipped to 12-10 (6-5). … Bradley point guard Duke Deen left the game with 14:22 left, favoring his right leg as he hobbled down the sideline to the bench. He returned quickly, with 12:34 remaining. … UNI guard Tytan Anderson's right thumb was in a heavy wrap. He's a left-handed shooter. … UNI guard Nate Heise had a cut on his left bicep, blood trickling, in the final 30 seconds of the first half. … Bradley 7-foot-1 center Ahmet Jonovic snapped a DNP streak of three games when he came in with 16:46 left in the second half and excited the crowd with a dunk 15 seconds later. He earned 4:13 of court time. … The Braves held UNI star Bowen Born to 11 points through the midway point of the second half. He finished with 16 points in 26:34. … Bradley got a game-high 22 points from Connor Hickman, 18 from Malevy Leons, and 12 from Darius Hannah. … The Braves got nine rebounds from Hannah, eight from Leons and five from Christian Davis, the latter also coming in off the bench to hit a pair of 3s in the second half. … BU guard Duke Deen had seven assists and three steals. … The Braves shot 51.6% in the first half and 48.3% for the game. They were 8-of-30 (26.7% from 3). … UNI shot 42.6% from the field and 31.6% from 3. … Bradley heads over to Illinois State for a rivalry game next, on Saturday.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

FINAL: Bradley 85, Northern Iowa 69

Hickman with 22 as Bradley closes in on win

8:47 p.m.: Connor Hickman with a driving layup down right side of lane to give BU a 72-59 lead with 4:26 left.

Ensuing UNI possession, Leons whistled for a blocking foul, stays down on the floor after the play and needs to be helped up by training staff. Looked OK, jogged off to bench.

Bradley 66, Northern Iowa 53

8:37 p.m.: Malevy Leons and Connor Hickman both have 18 at the break with 7:49 left.

Leons also has 8 rebounds, closing on a double-double, and he's now 6 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career. Braves have held Bown Born to 13 points.

Duke Deen exits injured, returns quickly

8:17 p.m.: Bradley point guard Duke Deen hobbles (right leg issue) down the sideline and leaves the game with 14:26 left.

UNI sniper Bowen Born misses a 3, BU wing Christian Davis grazes him on follow through and gets whistled, terrible foul call. Born makes 2 of 3 and BU lead is 58-47 at 13 minutes.

Davis hit a pair of 3s before that. Deen returned with 12:34 left.

Jonovic gets in

8:12 p.m.: Bradley's 7-foot-1 center, Ahmet Jonovic, came into the game at 16:47 of the second half and dunked 15 seconds later. It's his first court time, after sitting the last three games.

Bradley leads 50-39 with under 16 minutes left.

By the numbers

7:53 p.m.: Bradley has 16 from Connor Hickman on 6 of 10 shooting (4 of 8 from 3). Darius Hannah with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Duke Deen has 5 assists. Braves shooting 51.6% from the field.

Trey Campbell has 10 for UNI, which is shooting 40% from the field. Bowen Born played just 11:35 in the first half.

HALFTIME: Bradley 46, Northern Iowa 30

7:49 p.m.: Malevy Leons nails a 3 from the left wing at the buzzer to send Bradley off to the locker room with a 46-30 lead.

Braves closed the half with a 17-6 run, including 11 points combined from Leons and Hickman.

UNI guard Nate Heise left bicep was cut and trickling blood in final 30 seconds.

Hickman dominating

7:36 p.m.: Connor Hickman knocks down a pair of 3s 30 seconds apart, with a missed 3 from Bowen Born in between, and Bradley rolls to 39-27 lead with 3:41 left in the half.

Mr. Hickman has a game-high 16 points.

Braves extend lead

7:30 p.m.: The Braves answer with a 6-3 run on a stepback jumper from Leons, a running jumper from Duke Deen and a steal and layup from Darius Hannah to push their lead to 27-19 with 7:54 left.

That forced UNI into a timeout.

UNI heats up

7:21 p.m.: Northern Iowa gets a 3 from Kyle Pock amid a little five-point run to cut the Bradley lead to 21-14 as the break arrives at 10:48.

Hickman has 10 points.

Keeping an eye on Leons

7:16 p.m.: Braves star forward Malevy Leons enters this game with 976 career points. Hits a 3 for a 15-5 lead.

Braves big start

7:12 p.m.: Connor Hickman races out of the gate with a pair of 3s and a driving layup for 8 points in the first 2:38 after tipoff.

The Braves add a jumper from Darius Hannah and free throws from Almar Atlason to blast out to a 12-2 lead off tipoff.

UNI has missed four of its first six shots while Bradley has 5 of the game's first six boards.

Starting lineups

6:50 p.m.: The Braves will open with guards Connor Hickman and Duke Deen, with forwards Almar Atlason, Darius Hannah and Malevy Leons. UNI counters with guards Heise, Born, Anderson, Campbell and center Hutson.

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