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Final: Bradley 63, WSU 54

Marshall’s lobbying just got him a foul call. Maniscalco landed while catching a ball and Couisnard didn’t give him a step to land, but Bradley got the foul. But that’ll do it.

Thanks for checking in tonight. We’ll chat Tuesday night before and during the Missouri State game.

0:45.2, 2nd half: Bradley 63, WSU 52

Mekel misses the front end, WSU misses two shots . . . and Couisnard bails everyone out by hitting one of two foul shots. 56-47, 3:09 to go.

Two FTs from Jeremy Crouch make it an 11-point game. WSU can’t waste time. Thomasson misses badly from 15 and BU will eat clock again.

A foul call on Thomasson — a possible charge against Crouch — causes Marshall to take off his jacket with a snarl that I wouldn’t want to see in a dark alley. Crouch makes both, 60-47, 1:59.

Mekel’s driving shot is blocked, it’s looking impossible now. Dean Smith would be proud of the way Bradley kills the clock.

Crouch hits two more, 62-47, 1:18.

WSU was able to get it to eight points a few minutes ago but never put together a great possession after that.

During Thomasson’s FTs, Marshall used the word “terrible” three times in screaming at the outer officials. He’s also had two conversations with associate athletic director Brian Pracht, seated next to the bench.

A Mekel three makes it 63-52.

3:18, 2nd half: Bradley 56, WSU 46

Couisnard is pleading with the fans to keep up the noise. Big Braves possession as we hit the six-minute mark . . . a three-point miss.

Bradley’s in a matchup zone and Mekel misses a bomb.

WSU had three team fouls but has committed three straight in this possession. Next one’s a FT or two.

That’s FOUR fouls in one possession. Ruffin isolated Clemente, a mismatch for the quicker guard, and got free throws on a drive. He made both to end a 12-0 Shocker run.

After a WSU turnover, Bradley will eat clock with the ball in Ruffin’s hands. But he airballs a drive and WSU is at the foul line when we come back.

6:26, 2nd half: Bradley 54, WSU 46

Could this become a game again? Thomasson makes one, it’s 54-41. WSU’s on a 7-0 run.

Mekel’s court-length drive makes is 54-43 . . . ALL fans on their feet.

Cooz blocks a shot, then bombs in a three. Timeout, Bradley. Where’s this been the past 90 minutes????

7:37, 2nd half: Bradley 54, WSU 40

Aha! It can be less than a 16-point deficit. Thomasson scored inside to cut it to 14 with 8:15 to go. A block leads to two foul shots for Thomasson, too. Now a media timeout. The fans are on their feet. Most of ‘em.

8:44, 2nd half: Bradley 54, WSU 38

Durley has stayed in the low post the last couple possessions and has shown promising moves. Would like to see him down there more for his development.

There are many, many fans with their arms folded across their chest — the international sign of frustration.

Bradley’s zone has stymied the Shockers, though Mekel’s three with 8:44 to play makes it a 16-point game for the third time this half. Maybe WSU could consider getting within 16 by game’s end to be a positive.

11:56, 2nd half: Bradley 52, WSU 34

Crouch got his 1,000th point with a nifty stop-and-shoot move from about 12 feet. 50-32.

Marshall has cooled somewhat after a fiery beginning to the half.

Thomasson has returned from the locker room, no apparent limp. He’ll return to the game for Clemente.

Bradley returns to a zone with its two big men — Singh and Collins — in there together. Hatch threw away another perimeter pass and screamed “WHY?” after fouling shortly thereafter.

Durley scores inside to make it 50-34, tying WSU’s smallest deficit of the half, but Maniscalco scores on a drive to extend to 18 again.

15:55, 2nd half: Bradley 48, WSU 32

I’m going to spend most of this half just watching Gregg Marshall. He’s been on the officials since the first possession of the half. When Mekel was fouled by Maniscalco, Marshall raised both fists in the air like a prizefighter after the whistle. The lead official went over to him to tell him to cool it, but it didn’t prevent Marshall from chewing on him a little more.

Crouch hits a three to make it 48-27. He needs two points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Not that Marshall’s counting, but Bradley has three team fouls to WSU’s zero.

Thomasson and a Bradley player went down in a heap at the Bradley end and Thomasson didn’t get up as WSU went downcourt and made a three. Looks like an ankle or knee as he walks off. Wonder what went through Marshall’s head as he made the long walk to Thomasson. Phil goes to the locker room; remember what happened last time trainer Todd Fagan took a player back there during a game.

Halftime: It’s still 42-21

Bradley scoring: Warren 10, Maniscalco 6, Ruffin 6, Salley 5, Crouch 5, Austin 4, Singh 4, Collins 2. Everyone who played scored. 57.1 from the field, 63.6 3FG, 3 of 5 at the line.

WSU scoring: Preadom 9, Thomasson 4, Clemente 2, Ellis 2, Mekel 2, Couisnard 2. WSU was 7 of 26 (26.9) from the field, 1 of 8 from three, 6 of 6 from the line.

WSU’s also getting outrebounded 18-14 and out-assisted (yeah, I know that’s not a word) 13-3. BU had four turnovers, WSU 7.

Remember, Bradley is without its fourth-leading scorer, a reserve who’s getting 13 minutes a game, and Ruffin is about 80 percent. Unless WSU has another second half in it like it did at Peoria . . . .

Halftime: Bradley 42, WSU 21

Columnist Bob Lutz and photographer Jeff Tuttle just arrived in the arena after their day-long, state-wide trip to the Kansas, K-State and WSU games. Their trip started at 9, will end at 9, and involved four interstate highways. Look for the story in Sunday’s Eagle.

The Braves’ possessions after timeouts seem perfect. Sam Singh got the ball isolated and scored easily over Clemente. 40-21.

Bradley is 7 of 11 from three. WSU is 1 of 7 after Mekel’s bad miss.

Crouch scores on a too-easy drive for a 42-21 lead. WSU gets the last possession against a zone and Preadom misses.

I’ll be quite interested to see how many fans don’t come back into the bowl for the second half. Yia Yia’s could fill up more quickly than expected. Spangle’s, too.

2:25, 1st half: Bradley 38, WSU 21

Trust me, my bald spot is bigger.

I think Marshall, in this case, felt like he couldn’t even wait a few seconds for a whistle. This one is getting away at a rapid rate.

Thomasson draws his first BU foul of the night, which pleases the nearby student section. The Braves play good, tough interior defense. He makes both, ending BU’s 7-0 run.

Cooz blocks his third shot of the night. What in the name of Bill Russell is going on?

Sign of tonight’s problems: BU’s Salley cut right into the passing lane to take away Hatch’s pass, then he takes it downcourt for a driving layup. Just a lazy, awful pass, which gets him out of the lineup at the next whistle.

Bradley’s shooting 62 percent to the Shockers’ 25 percent (Preadom hits a three to improve it to 5 of 21). Simply a sign of how easy one offense is operating compared to the other.

Thomasson, knocked to the floor by Clemente as the action went the other way, gets a cherry-pick layup, which prompts Jim Les to call a timeout (when the next whistle would’ve given him the media TO).

Crouch hits a three out of the timeout, a well-spent 30 by Jim Les.

And you think Mitch Holthus cares right now how I spell his name?

7:16, 1st half: Bradley 31, WSU 12

Drake ekes out a four-point home win today over Northern Iowa after trailing in the second half. The Bulldogs are America’s Darling. Or the Midwest’s Darling. Or Des Moines’ Darling.

Hey, Cyndy Klose is on media row tonight.

Lance Harris is getting some prolonged minutes tonight.

Ellis hits to make it 12-8. WSU returns to a zone out of the timeout. But Ruffin hits a long three, 19-10.

There goes J.T. again. Missed.

Mekel enters for Preadom, not Harris. Lance is probably in to cover Daniel Ruffin, but Harris took off to fast when he thought a teammate had a rebound, but BU got it and hit an open Ruffin for a made three.

Thomasson is taking a pretty good pounding inside. A jump ball acts as a turnover when his man comes around him to deflect it away. BU scores on a David Collins turnaround and Gregg Marshall takes a 30-second timeout trailing 29-12. Oof. Next whistle would’ve brought a media TO, too.

Warren gets a breakaway dunk and it’s 31-12. The Shockers are having a terrible time finding an offensive rhythm.

11:16, 1st half: Bradley 16, WSU 8

After a Wendell Preadom jumper, the Shockers are in a zone defense. But Sam Singh scores on the block for a 12-6 lead.

J.T. Durley evidently doesn’t go back and look at my in-game blogging, because he just took a bad three from the corner. A 20-footer that went 22. I will chide him no more in hopes the positive vibes will . . . oh, just don’t shoot so quickly, J.T.

Preadom just missed a great chance for six consecutive points, blowing a back-door layup. But he scored both WSU baskets since the last TO.
14:05, 1st half: Bradley 10, WSU 4

Folks, I just lot about 10 paragraphs of description of the first six minutes. Here’s a recap:

WSU scores the first four, Bradley the next 10. Timeout.

Boy, that was easy.

To expound . . . BU has three blocks so far and WSU two. The Braves needed four possessions to find a quality shot, but once they did, they hit four straight. Andrew Warren hit consecutive threes, then a dunk and inside basket made it 10-4.

Gotta remember to hit save more often.

7 p.m.: The Valley, America’s Renaissance conference!

I cracked up the first time Mitch Holthus said it, and I don’t think he says it anymore. Anyway, he and Charlie Spoonhour are your FSN TV guys tonight. Media timeouts will probably be 30 seconds longer than normal, giving you extra time to hit the fridge.

Starting for BU: G Sam Maniscalco, G Jeremy Crouch, C Matt Salley, G Andrew Warren, F Rashad Austin.

Starting for your lads: F P.J. Couisnard, F Ramon Clemente, F Phil Thomasson, G Graham Hatch, G Gal Mekel.

6:50 p.m.: An interesting matchup

Bradley is without a starter (Theron Wilson) and a top reserve (Tyrone Cole-Scott), who were suspended for a game after being arrested for something that resembled suspicion of underage drinking.

WSU, meanwhile, is without Matt Braeuer (concussion, eighth game) and Mantas Griskenas (ACL, MCL, ACLU, NCAA, etc.) and hasn’t won since beating Bradley three weeks ago.

Ted “The Sports Head” Woodward brings it tonight with a wonderful note: Tonight is the 30th anniversary of maybe the greatest dunk by a visitor in Roundhouse history. On Jan. 26, 1978, the Shockers were wrapping up a victory in overtime over Indiana State. As the final seconds ticked down and the game decided, Sycamores junior Larry Bird (don’t he ever did anything after college) dribbled into the lane, scooped the ball up and tossed it to the backboard. He jumped and grabbed it — I think with one hand, maybe two — and jammed it fiercely at the buzzer.

Shockers got the win, Bird got the memory. Ted, Paul and I were all there that night and remembered it immediately as we talked about that game. I hope kids who were our age then are remembering those kinds of things.

6:30 p.m.: Time to rate the Bradley Braves

As always during the conference season, we’ll rate the incoming opponent to start the blogging night. We rate the school and its importance to the Missouri Valley Conference. We’ll use the following for criteria, giving a maximum of 10 points for each and a minimum of 1. Here’s our look at the Peoriaites.

1. Its national reputation in college basketball. This would be an excellent bar discussion in St. Louis during the Valley tournament. Bradley fan in a red sweatshirt, Shocker fan in gold. The argument: Which school is the MVC leader in national prominence in men’s basketball? Shocker fans would point to Stallworth, Carr, McDaniel and the 1965 Final Four. Bradley would point to its two NIT championships (one when the NIT was just as important as the NCAAs), Chet Walker and Hersey Hawkins. The winner of argument doesn’t matter, but Bradley is as important as any school to the Valley’s longtime basketball success. 10 points.

2. Where its best players rate historically among the conference’s best. Folks in Lawrence like to say Danny Manning was the 1988 Player of the Year, and he was . . . by an organization that no longer exists (United Press International). The Associated Press national Player of the Year was Bradley guard Hersey Hawkins, who had an unbelievable senior season in Peoria. The Braves came to Wichita in 1988 and the Shockers won 116-88, but Hawkins went off for something like 38 points and was bombing from all over. The Valley’s national players of the year since the “Valley of Death” went away in the early 1970s go two players deep: Larry Bird (Indiana St.) and Hawkins. Short list, eh? Chet “The Jet” Walker was pretty good, too, and so were guys like Roger Phegley, Mitchell Anderson, Jim Les and Anthony Parker. After the Shockers, it’s as good a lineup as any current Valley member. 9 points.

3. Its home arena. Carver Arena is a bigger and nicer Kansas Coliseum. It has that same cold, “there’s a hockey floor under the hardwood” atmosphere. But it’s in downtown Peoria with several hotspots around it. 7 points.

4. Its home fans. Braves fans are extremely similar to Shocker fans in Koch Arena — good student section and, otherwise, an older fan base. Very knowledgable home crowd, much like WSU, where they cheer good basketball and sometimes sit on their hands when all is not well. 7 points.

5. Its home city. I like Peoria. It’s always 10 degrees when WSU basketball travels there — 40 degrees when WSU baseball is there — but I’ve always thought Peoria should fight Reno for that “Biggest Little City in the World” description. Peoria has a big-city feel with a strong downtown. It’s 2 1/2 hours from St. Louis and Chicago, so there’s a lot of loyalties to be had sports-wise. 6 points.

6. Its mascot and school colors. Braves, red and black with white (or white with black). The Braves get no points, and here’s why: Maybe 20 years ago, the university decided that its Braves mascot/logo, a cartoonish Indian figure, was inappropriate. But while getting rid of the mascot/logo, the “Braves” nickname stayed. The logo changed to a big BU with a script “Braves” in front. This is wishy-washiness at its best. Either go all the way and change the nickname, too, or take a stand and say, “We don’t feel like we’re insulting Native Americans, we’re keeping it.” One or the other, don’t go halfway. The NCAA still has Bradley on its “hostile nicknames” list, as well it should. The Atlanta Braves got rid of Chief Noc-a-homa but you think that’s enough? 0 points.

7. Most colorful players and coaches from the school. Wow, where do you start? Dick Versace defined “colorful,” right? (I still have a roll of Dick Versace toilet paper from the early ’80s. I may put it on eBay someday.) Stan Albeck would be the most colorful coach at many schools but wasn’t Versace’s equal. Think Versace and Gene Smithson ever got together to measure who had the curliest hair? 9 points.

8. And, finally, a chance to earn 10 bonus points based on none of the above. The Braves get points for being old school. If you press Missouri Valley Conference officials about the schools that are the absolute heart of the conference, they’ll tell you Bradley and Wichita State. Each school has had periods of great basketball success. Bradley also gets a sentimentality point this year for this, the last year of Robertson Field House. It was an old airplane hangar with a raised floor that served as the Braves’ home court until about 1982 (the BU women still play there). And, finally, BU gets a point for the Pierre Marquette hotel, just blocks from Carver Arena. I highly recommend staying there, but if you do, be warned: Request a room far away from the side closest to the strip joint next door. You’ll never get any sleep unless you do. 6 points.

The Braves check in at . . . 54 points. That puts them in second, four more schools (including WSU) to go. We’ll rate the school formerly known as Southwest Missouri State on Tuesday night.

The current standings
Creighton 55
Bradley 54
Illinois State 43
Northern Iowa 33
Drake 29

6:20 p.m.: The Braves and the Shockers

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to tonight’s blog from Koch Arena. Eagle beat writer Paul Suellentrop is on my left, Bradley radio men Dave Snell and Joe Stowell are on my right, and there’s about 2,000 gold towels up for grabs in the student section. What could be better?

We’ll do our nightly “Rate the Valley” segment in a few minutes, then we’ll get into full pregame mode. Thanks for checking in, c’mon back. And comment, dang it. That’s what this Internet fad thing is all about.