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Bradley heads back to NCAA tournament with MVC title win over Valparaiso

Mar 8, 2020 at 3:15 PM

ST. LOUIS — Bradley advanced to the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years for the first time since 1955 Sunday with an 80-66 victory over upstart Valparaiso in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center.

Bradley (23-11) used a 17-2 spurt beginning with a Nate Kennell baseline jumper at 9:40 to overcome a 51-49 deficit and take control.

Darrell Brown led Bradley with 21 points, while Elijah Childs added 17 and Ja'Shon Henry 16.

The win total for the Braves is the most since the 1993-94 team also won 23 games.