DES MOINES, Iowa — The Bradley Braves pulled off a thrilling victory against the Drake Bulldogs, winning 61-59 in a closely contested game on Sunday. Duke Deen was the top scorer for Bradley, contributing 12 points, while Darius Hannah made a crucial dunk with only 10 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Braves.

Deen showcased a solid performance, hitting 4 out of 10 shots from the floor, with 3 of those being successful three-point attempts. Zek Montgomery added 11 points to the Braves’ score, finishing the night with an impressive 4 for 6 shooting. Hannah made noteworthy contributions as well, scoring nine points on 3 of 5 shooting, complemented by a 2 for 4 performance from the free-throw line.

In a pivotal moment late in the game, the 6-foot-9 Hannah set a strategic ghost screen on the right wing, allowing Zek Montgomery to deliver a well-timed assist to Hannah, who finished with a powerful two-handed dunk that put Bradley ahead. Meanwhile, Daniel Abreu, who led the Bulldogs with 16 points, missed a critical jumper just before the game buzzer, which could have secured a win for Drake.

For the Bulldogs, who now have a record of 23-3 and 13-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference, Mitch Mascari contributed 14 points alongside Kael Combs, who added 11 points to the team’s efforts. This loss for Drake marks the end of their impressive 11-game winning streak.

Bradley managed to hold a slim lead at halftime, ending the first half with a score of 31-30, with Demarion Burch also contributing nine points in the opening period. Montgomery continued his strong play in the second half, adding another eight points to his tally.

Both teams are set to return to the court on Wednesday, with Bradley traveling to face Illinois State and Drake hosting UIC at home.