How Bradley’s bigs pounded Valpo to extend home win streak

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Bradley’s Darius Hannah (35) dunks over Valpo’s Ibra Bayu in the first half Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Beacons 88-66.

PEORIA — Malevy Leons has a theory about why the Bradley Braves are so dominant at home.

“I think it’s our spirit here, that Bradley Braves mascot,” Leons said playfully. “Our spirit is running around spooking the other team here. I like watching Kaboom! I think he’s the reason why we win here.”

Leons and his fellow forwards went kaboom for six dunks in a span of 9:08 Saturday to traumatize Valparaiso, while the forward from Netherlands knocked down five 3-pointers on the way to an 88-66 victory before 4,476 at Carver Arena.

BOX SCORE: Valparaiso at Bradley | Preview: Valpo at BU | Standings: MVC

That extended the Braves’ home win streak to 16 games, matching the 1965-66 Joe Stowell-led team for ninth-longest in program history. It’s the longest home win streak since the Braves won 27 in a row over 1993-95.

“We haven’t talked about the win streak once,” Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. “We’re just taking these games one at a time, staying focused.”

But mystical Kaboom! aside, the Beacons mostly fell prey to a BU front line that punished them in waves and gave a determined, driven performance.

How driven?

Bradley’s Malevy Leons lets a three-pointer fly over Valpo’s Quinton Green in the first half Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Beacons 88-66.

On Saturday morning, the Braves had their customary walkthrough on their practice court in Renaissance Coliseum.

Leons wouldn’t leave when it was over, insisting on staying in the gym until he made 50 3-pointers.

“I went to shoot a little bit more,” Leons said. “It was supposed to be 50, but I made 55 3s. I just felt like I needed to do it. I guess it helped. I better start doing that every day now.”

Darius Hannah: Bradley Braves man in the middle has found a basketball family

Leons hit a corner 3 to open the game, then hit another, and another and by the time he…

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Author : Journal Star

Publish date : 2023-05-09 20:27:48

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