MURRAY, Ky. — Bradley University accomplished a victory over Murray State on Saturday night with a solid score of 74-61, largely thanks to the performance of Duke Deen, who tallied 18 points.

In addition to his scoring, Deen contributed five assists for the Braves, who boast an impressive record of 16 wins and 3 losses, along with 7 wins to 1 loss in the Missouri Valley Conference. Corey Thomas also made significant contributions by scoring 16 points, showcasing excellent shooting accuracy going 5 of 6 from the field and hitting 2 out of 3 from beyond the arc. Along with his offensive output, Thomas secured six rebounds. Darius Hannah demonstrated his own prowess by finishing the game with 16 points, hitting 6 of 9 attempts from the field and making all four of his free throw attempts.

For the Racers, AJ Ferguson led the scoring with 12 points and also recorded five assists. Jacobi Wood added another 11 points along with two steals, while Kylen Milton matched Wood’s total with 11 points of his own.

The turning point came when Bradley surged ahead with 1:37 left in the first half and maintained that lead for the remainder of the game. Deen’s first-half efforts, which netted him 13 points, were vital in helping Bradley secure a 41-35 advantage at halftime. The Braves ultimately expanded their lead during the second half, reaching a 74-59 edge after putting together a significant 9-1 scoring run. Notably, Hannah stepped up in the second half, scoring a team-high 12 points to help cement the win.

Looking ahead, Bradley is set to face Belmont on Tuesday in an away game, while Murray State will travel to play Southern Illinois on Wednesday.