PEORIA, Ill. — In an exciting match on Wednesday night, Tavion Banks came off the bench to score 19 points, leading Drake University to a 64-57 victory over Bradley.


Banks contributed significantly not only with his scoring but also gathered seven rebounds, helping the Bulldogs improve their record to 13 wins and 2 losses, including 3 wins and 2 losses in the Missouri Valley Conference. Mitch Mascari supported the effort with 12 points, effectively shooting 40% from three-point range while also making a notable impact on defense with five steals. Meanwhile, Kael Combs added 10 points, remaining perfect from the field on four attempts and sinking two of three free throws.


The Braves, who held a 13-3 record (4-1 in the conference) prior to the game, were led by Zek Montgomery with 17 points and six rebounds. Darius Hannah also had a strong performance for Bradley, contributing 14 points along with two blocks. The defeat marked the end of a five-game winning streak for the Braves, putting a damper on what had been a strong stretch.


The first half saw both teams evenly matched, ending at a 31-31 tie. Banks was instrumental for Drake during this half, scoring 10 of his total points then and following it up with nine more in the second half.


Looking ahead, both teams will be in action again on Saturday. Drake will be hosting Evansville while Bradley is set to travel to face UIC.


Overall, the game showcased the competitiveness of the teams in the Missouri Valley Conference as they continue to vie for positions in the league standings.