PEORIA — The Bradley Braves left powerhouse Belmont in shock Monday in an epic Missouri Valley Conference battle.
The Braves shot 12 of 17 from 3-point range after halftime and went on to knock off first-place Belmont, 95-84 in overtime, before a Carver Arena crowd of 5,727 that stood from the final minutes of regulation through to the final horn in overtime.
They saw Bradley end Belmont’s nine-game win streak – the sixth-longest active streak in the nation – as guard Jaquan Johnson poured in 25 points after halftime and made 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the final 25 minutes.
“It was an electric game,” said Johnson, who had a game-high 31 points. “Coach has been telling me, ‘Shoot whenever you can.’ Once I get hot, it’s hard to stop me. We fed off the crowd, guys got hot, and honestly, no (nothing Belmont could do to stop them).”
It was hard to stop Bradley guard Alex Huibregtse, too, who knocked down 6 of 11 from 3-point range. And there was BU forward Timoty van der Knaap, a 22% shooter from 3-point range, burying 3 of 4 treys.
By the time the dust settled on the 45-minute duel, Bradley was 17 of 36 from 3-point range, beating Belmont at its own game (10 of 33).
Bradley got to overtime thanks to a clutch shot from graduate guard Huibregtse, who buried a 3 from straightaway with 27 seconds left in the second half to pull Bradley into an 80-80 tie.
“Coach drew it up for me, it was a great play,” Huibregtse said. “And the big fella (BU center Ahmet Jonovic) set me a great screen. I got some separation, their big was a little too low and I had some daylight.”
Bradley head coach Brian Wardle stepped off that rollercoaster ride, took a breath, and allowed the slightest smile after the biggest victory of the season was in hand Monday night.
“We play in segments. We’re really good sometimes, and then we can look really bad at times,” Wardle said. “I thought we’d be a really good two-point shooting team this year and struggle from 3, but we’re just the opposite. So who knows with this team. Flip a coin.
“But if I can just get them a little more consistent, a little bit sharper, and execute some certain things a little bit better, we can go to another level or so.”
They went to a level few have against Belmont in the 2025-26 season, upsetting the 22-4 Missouri Valley Conference leader in a thrilling gunslingers duel that saw heroic plays from both teams from the final minutes of regulation, then on into overtime.
“That was a great college basketball game,” Wardle said. “High-level shot-making by both teams in the second half. We responded. I kind of gave them a little juice at halftime and then Jaquan Johnson came out, guys came out, really played hard – not perfect, not always smart – but we gave the effort and made the big plays when we needed to.
“I’m so very proud of them.”
The Braves shot 71% from distance in the final 25 minutes. including the biggest shot of the game on which Huibregtse tied it at 80-80 on a 3 from straightaway with 27 seconds left in regulation.
They played with both their centers, Ahmet Jonovic and Kai Yu, with three fouls by halftime and Jonovic eventually fouling out with just 16 minutes of floor time.
They held one of the top players in the nation, Tyler Lundblade, without a point in the first half as Huibregtse and Montana Wheeler gave a tremendous defensive showing.
That turned the other way in the second half, when Lundblade scored 16 points in the final 25 minutes, during which the two teams slugged out 15 lead changes.
“I really liked our defense in the first half,” Wardle said. “Not so much in the second half. We grabbed too much and then couldn’t get a defensive rebound. They are just really hard to guard … great cutting team.
“We needed to bounce back after our last performance (a 61-49 loss at UNI), offensively. We haven’t shot the ball well in this building all year, so we were hoping we could have a good night tonight. We thought we’d get some 3s, because they do give up a lot of 3s, defensively.”
Showdown at high noon
The second half was like watching an old Western, with two gunslingers standing in a dusty street staring each other down.
Huibregtse hit a 3 with 8:46 left in the second half to give Bradley and eight-point lead.
Lundblade fired back 12 seconds later with a 3.
Johnson hit a 3 with 6:57 to go for a 68-62 lead.
Lundblade fired back 52 seconds later with a 3 and-1 to cut BU’s lead to 68-66.
Aidan Noyes launched in a 3 with 5:14 left and Belmont led, 69-68.
Ahmet Jonovic drove to the rim to put BU back on top, 70-69.
Belmont big man Drew Scharnowski answered with a layup 42 seconds later for a 71-70 lead.
Then former Notre Dame High School forward Eoin Dillon buried a 3 with 3:44 left for 74-72 Belmont.
van der Knaap, a 22% shooter from 3, answered with a 3 just 14 seconds later to give BU a one-point lead.
A key moment arrived with 1:50 left when Jonovic missed a shot in the paint, but A.J. Smith streaked down the lane and dunked it for a 77-76 lead.
“Huge play,” Wardle said. “A.J. was one of the guys I challenged at halftime, and I thought he guarded and rebounded great, was a second-half force
A pair of free throws from Dillon plus a driving layup from Brigham Rogers and Belmont was sitting ahead, 80-77, with 37 seconds left.
Then Huibregtse delivered his 3 with 27 seconds left to shove the game into overtime on a play drawn up for him.
“(Jonovic) set a good screen and we were going for (a 3-pointer with Huibregtse) all the way,” Wardle said. “If you watch, Alex is disciplined, he’s smart. He give you everything he has physically. I’m super proud of him, because early in the year he didn’t make those big shots for us. That’s what we’re going to need, going into Arch Madness.”
Overtime, over and out
The Braves blew out Belmont in the five-minute overtime, opening with another 3 from Huibregtse, closing with a layup from Johnson and in between getting van der Knaap’s third 3 of the game putting away 7 of 10 from the free throw line.
With just a few second left, Johnson came down the floor to the defensive end and allowed himself a grin.
Then the team moved into celebration mode as Bradley secured a split with Belmont.
“It means a lot, I think it gives us confidence heading into the last stretch of things,” Huibregtse said of the victory. “But we know it’s one game. You try not to get too high about it, but it’s a great win for us.”
They said it
Burch out sick
Bradley guard Demarion Burch, who started 16 games this season, was out with an illness Monday and did not come to Carver Arena.
He did not play the previous two games (DNP Coaches Decision).
“He just felt ill this morning,” Wardle said. “He’s been sick all day, but he was feeling better even tonight. So he should be ready to roll. We should have him back for the next game.”
Bravely Speaking
Bradley improves to 17-9 overall, 10-5 in the Valley. … Belmont slips to 22-4 (12-3). … Illinois State was upset by last-place Evansville. Murray State was pummeled by 29 at home by UNI. That added up to Bradley moving into a second-place tie with Murray State in the MVC race. … Bradley head coach Brian Wardle earned his 110th career win in the Valley, tying Jim Molinari for the all-time lead. The BU head coach has 203 overall career wins at Bradley’s helm, second most in program history. … Former Bradley forward Christian Davis, now a pro player in Europe, was in Peoria and watched the game from the baseline. … Belmont forward Eoin Dillon, the former Notre Dame High School star and brother of former Bradley guard Connor Dillon, had 9 points in 22 minutes. He has been named MVC Freshman Player of the Week three times this season. … Braves guard Alex Huibregtse is 23 of 44 (52%) from the 3-point line in the last four games. He was 6 of 11 Monday and had 20 points. … Bradley star guard Jaquan Johnson added three steals to up his season total to 72, second in the nation. … Belmont offense came in No. 1 in the nation in effective field goal percentage at 61.2%. … Belmont sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade had 23rd double figure scoring games this season. The Braves held him to zero in the first half, and he finished with 16. … The Braves have nine underclassmen on the roster headed into 2025-26 making them the second youngest team in the MVC only to Valpo. … The 2025-26 season marks three important anniversaries for the Braves program: 20 years for the 2005-06 Sweet 16 team; 30 years for the 1995-96 MVC regular-season championship team, and 40 years for the 1985-86 MVC Regular-season championship team. … Jaquan Johnson had a game-high 31 points, 7 assists and shot 6 of 10 from 3. … BU forward A.J. Smith had 8 rebounds. … Belmont center Drew Scharnowski had 18 points and 9 rebounds. … Bruins Aidan Noyes had 14 points and teammate Brigham Rogers had 9 rebounds. … Bradley was out-rebounded 46-34. … The game had 21 lead changes. … Next up for Bradley is a road game at Southern Illinois on Sunday.
The Journal Star brought live updates from Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois. See highlights below:
Bradley vs. Belmont final score update
FINAL: Bradley 95, Belmont 84 (OT)
End of regulation: Bradley 80, Belmont 80
Huibregtse clutch
Bradley guard Alex Huibregtse nails a 3 with 27 seconds left to force an 80-80 tie. The game goes to overtime.
Belmont back into the lead
Dietrich Richardson drive to the rim is stuffed, and Belmont comes the other way for a corner 3 from Noyes and a 69-68 lead with 5:14 left. Timeout, Bradley.
What a moment
Bradley forces two Belmont missed shots, but gives up two offensive rebounds to extend the possession to a third chance.
Tyler Lundblade then buries a 3 and fouled by van der Knaap, makes the and-1, and suddenly its 68-66 Bradley with 6:04 left.
Throwing haymakers
Alex Huibregtse knocks down a 3 from the left corner for a 65-57 lead. Belmont goes to the other end and knocks down a 3 from Tyler Lundblade to get it right back within five at 8:32 left.
Timeout, Belmont.
Belmont star surfaces
Tyler Lundblade, who leads Belmont with 15.5 ppg, gets his first points on a bucket with 10:43 left in the game. Bradley lead is 57-51.
Bradley 52, Belmont 46
The Braves are 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the second half.
A.J. Smith makes a nice play, grabbing an offensive rebound and getting it to Timoty van der Knaap for a layup to keep the Braves ahead, 52-46, as the break arrives with 11:45 left.
Here comes Bully
Bradley races into a 40-38 lead as point guard Jaquan Johnson buries three 3-pointers in the first 3:52 of the second half.
Game is at media break with 15:35 left.
Bradley’s big man situation
The Braves open the second half with centers Ahmet Jonovic and Kai Yu both with three fouls.
HALFTIME: Belmont 33, Bradley 31
Belmont starters Tyler Lundblade and Sam Orme did not score in the first half.
Belmont hangs 12
The Braves ran up a 29-21 lead with 3:47 left in the half. But Belmont punched back with a 12-0 run that included a pair of dunks from Drew Scharnowski.
Belmont on a run
The Bruins respond with a 7-0 run over 83 seconds to cut BU lead to 21-19 with 8:02 left. Eoin Dillon with a nice jumper during that run.
BU lead to 9
A.J. Smith drives and-1 for a 21-12 lead with 9:47 left.
More big man foul trouble
Bradley center Kai Yu picks up his third foul with 10:43 left and head coach Brian Wardle very animated reaction on the sideline.
Yu sits down, Corey Thomas takes over in the middle.
Bradley’s two lead centers, Jonovic and Yu, out of the game with a combined five fouls.
Belmont upside down
Bruins have more turnovers (5) than field goals (3) as Bradley leads 13-10 with 11:53 to go.
Freshman success
Bradley gets a 3-pointer and-1 from freshman Montana Wheeler, then a pair of free throws from freshman Dietrich Richardson and a driving layup from Richardson for a 13-10 lead as the break arrives at 11:53.
Braves jump on top
Bradley slips behind 4-0 at the outset, but guard Alex Huibregtse hits a pair of 3-pointers to put BU on top, 6-4, as the first break arrives with 15:36 left.
Jonovic in foul trouble
Bradley big man Ahmet Jonovic takes two fouls in 23 seconds during the first two minutes of the game and sits down.
Kai Yu takes over.
Lineup update
Bradley guard Demarion Burch (illness) is listed as out for this game on the MVC official player availability report.
It will be the third straight game Burch has missed.
Nic McClain is listed as out for Belmont.
Bradley vs Belmont projected starting lineups
Bradley vs. Belmont by the numbers
Braves Rewind
Bradley ran into a Northern Iowa team ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, and was held to a season-low offensive output in a 61-49 road loss Friday.
“We struggled to move the ball, so that was disappointing,” BU head coach Brian Wardle said. “Defensively, we gave up too many back cuts in the first half and too many curls off flare screens in the second half.
“But our defense was a positive, too, it stayed true through the game. I thought our last five minutes might have been our best defense of the game. So that’s a positive. When we struggle to score, we usually give up a lot of points. So that was a positive.
“I liked our physicality on defense. I did not like our physicality on offense. They bumped us off the ball a lot. They bumped us on cuts. They pushed us out. They made us tentative on offense instead of moving the ball fast and seeing the open man. Overall, they were better than us.”
A rare game in the 40s
The Bradley Braves were held to 49 points Friday by a Northern Iowa team that ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense.
It was just the fourth game in which Bradley has scored 49 points or less in the last 225 games, going back seven seasons.
Here’s that run:
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What channel is the Bradley vs Belmont game on today?
Bradley vs Belmont live stream options
Bradley vs Belmont will be available via ESPN+.
Bradley basketball vs Belmont betting odds
Game lines and odds via OddsShark as of late Sunday night, Feb. 8:
Bradley basketball schedule
Record: 17-9
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(This story has been updated to add pictures, video and more information)
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.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: ‘An electric game’: Bradley Braves snap 9-game Belmont win streak with 95-84 win in overtime
Reporting by Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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