Bradley's Jaquan Johnson stole the show at the Ford Center, leading his team to a 94-90 overtime win against Evansville. Johnson's impressive performance, which included 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, was the difference-maker in a game that saw both teams trade blows throughout. Evansville's Leif Moeller also had a standout game, scoring 26 points and dishing out 6 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome Johnson's heroics.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Evansville taking a 36-29 lead into the break. However, Bradley came out strong in the second half, outscoring Evansville 50-43 to force overtime. In the extra period, Bradley dominated, outscoring Evansville 15-11 to seal the win. Johnson was unstoppable in overtime, scoring several crucial baskets to put the game out of reach.
Evansville's Bryce Quinet and AJ Casey also had notable performances, scoring 20 and 13 points, respectively. However, Bradley's supporting cast, including Montana Wheeler and Ahmet Jonovic, provided enough firepower to complement Johnson's scoring. Wheeler added 17 points, while Jonovic chipped in with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The win was a reflection of Bradley's resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Despite being outscored in the first half, they were able to adjust and take control of the game in the second half. Johnson's performance was a key factor in this, as he seemed to take over the game at times, scoring from both inside and outside the arc.
This game was a Quadrant 3 loss for Evansville, which doesn't significantly impact their already slim tournament chances. For Bradley, it was a Quadrant 4 win, which, while not particularly impressive, still adds to their overall win total. Bradley's current net ranking of 138 suggests they still have work to do to become a serious tournament contender.
The outcome of this game reinforces Bradley's position as a mid-tier team, capable of competing with, but not dominating, other teams in their conference. Evansville, on the other hand, remains near the bottom of the rankings, with a net ranking of 285. While they showed flashes of brilliance, particularly from Moeller, they ultimately fell short against a more balanced Bradley team.
In the end, Bradley's victory was a result of their ability to adapt and overcome Evansville's strong first-half performance. Johnson's incredible outing will be remembered as the turning point in this thrilling matchup. As the season progresses, Bradley want to build on this win, while Evansville will aim to regroup and find ways to close out games against tough opponents. The win improves Bradley's record to 14-8, while Evansville falls to 5-15.