PEORIA, Ill. — In an exciting showdown on Sunday evening, Darius Hannah propelled Bradley University to a thrilling 81-75 victory over Valparaiso in double overtime, securing the win for the Braves. Hannah showcased his scoring prowess, contributing 21 points, while Zek Montgomery stepped up with six crucial points during the second overtime period.

Hannah displayed impressive shooting skills, finishing the game with 8 of 13 from the floor and 4 of 5 from the charity stripe, helping the Braves improve their record to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Duke Deen also made significant contributions, scoring 20 points on 5 of 14 shooting, which included a solid 3 for 8 from beyond the three-point line. Moreover, Deen contributed five rebounds and defended vigorously, recording four steals. Montgomery added another 19 points to his tally, achieving 8 of 19 from the field, albeit hitting just 1 of 5 from long range.

On the other hand, the Beacons of Valparaiso had a strong performance from Cooper Schwieger, who led their scoring with 21 points along with six rebounds and two steals. Jefferson Monegro supported the effort with 17 points and six rebounds, while Kasper Sepp made a notable impact with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks. With this loss, Valparaiso now holds a record of 7-6 and 0-2 in the conference.

The first half concluded with Bradley taking a slight lead at 36-30, with Hannah being the standout scorer for his team during that period, netting nine points. However, the game intensified in the second half, where Bradley was outscored by six points. Both teams battled hard, and they eventually finished regulation tied at 63. Montgomery played a crucial role in the final stretch, hitting all of his field goal attempts in the last period, which helped to set the stage for the overtime drama that followed.