ST. LOUIS — Darius Hannah played a key role in Bradley’s 70-65 triumph over top-seeded Valparaiso in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday. With this win, the second-seeded Braves will face Drake in the final on Sunday. Both teams have exchanged victories on each other’s courts during the regular season, adding excitement to their championship showdown.
Hannah delivered an impressive performance, not only scoring 16 points but also dominating the boards with 12 rebounds for the Braves, who now hold a 26-7 record. Christian Davis also made significant contributions by netting 14 points on efficient shooting, making 5 of his 8 attempts, including 2 of 3 from three-point range, while also grabbing five rebounds and achieving three steals. Ahmet Jonovic was another standout player, scoring 12 points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also pulled down eight rebounds and added three blocks to his tally.
Valparaiso, who entered the tournament as the No. 11 seed with a 14-19 record, saw All Wright as their standout performer, delivering 24 points. The Beacons also benefitted from the efforts of Cooper Schwieger with 19 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, while Jefferson Monegro contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.
In a tightly contested match, Jonovic scored nine points in the opening half, during which Bradley trailed 34-31 at halftime. The Braves managed to overturn this deficit, thanks to an 11-2 scoring run in the second half, which helped them overcome a five-point disadvantage and take the lead at 55-51 with just over ten minutes remaining. The second half saw Hannah particularly shine, adding 14 points to his total and securing Bradley’s place in the championship game.
