Second-half collapse dooms Bradley men at Valpo

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Bradley made its first men’s basketball venture into this city Saturday in 35 years.

But the Braves’ 77-64 loss to Valparaiso followed a much more recent pattern – a second-half defensive collapse.

BU (18-11, 8-8) played a strong defensive first half, taking a 27-17 lead as the hosts hit just two of their first dozen shots, staying in the game only at the free-throw line.

The Crusaders (14-15, 5-11) finished the first half with a 9-4 spurt and then opened fire in the second half, hitting 16 of their first 22 shots (73 percent) and turning a 60-56 deficit at 5:55 into a rout with a 21-0 run.