Bradley freshman thrives as the stage grows

ST. LOUIS – The stage could not have been bigger for the Bradley Braves. Win or go home against a team that has had their number this season, winning both matchups.

On a team loaded with veterans, any one of the Braves could have made the necessary momentum plays to overcome Friday’s constant deficits. And the upperclassmen did make many of them in Bradley’s 61-58 Missouri Valley Conference tournament comeback win over Missouri State.

But the freshman forward playing his first game in this stressful, big-game atmosphere was there time after time delivering for the Braves.

When the Bears’ slow tempo was limiting Bradley’s scoring opportunities in the first half, there was Ja’Shon Henry to the…