It resembled so many nonconference basketball games at Carver Arena over the years. Until the last 10 minutes.
After a strong challenge by Western Carolina, Bradley had begun to pull away Monday night. It built a 10-point lead with 10:33 left. The crowd of 9,019 settled back in its seats, expectant of the Braves’ 46th non-league victory in the 53 such contests held at Carver during coach Jim Les’ tenure.
But the Catamounts had other ideas. They won 75-67 by staging a 23-4 burst over the next 6:20.
“We had guys come off the bench — Jake Robinson and Keaton Cole — who made some big plays,” Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter said. “Keaton’s (3-pointer) out of the corner got us going. We got some stops and got a little momentum, then carried it through until we got the lead. Then we dictated the game and really worked the clock well. That’s what a veteran club should do.”
Bradley (5-3) is a veteran club as well but didn’t show it down the stretch in its first home game in two weeks.
“I don’t want to take anything away from (Western Carolina), because they’re a good basketball team,” BU coach Jim Les said. “But our defense let us down tonight. Our commitment to it from the start wasn’t great and our discipline and fundamentals broke down throughout the game.”
The Braves were on the verge in the first half as well. They led 33-24 at 4:17 but were outscored 14-4 the rest of the half and trailed by a point heading to the locker room.
That despite being in the bonus by 12:16. Bradley attempted 17 free throws in the first half and made just 10. For the game, the Braves were just 19-for-33 (58 percent).
“We had them back on their heels, but just couldn’t finish off those possessions by making free throws,” Les said. “But that’s too easy of a bailout. It’s not what cost us the game.”
Said Bradley guard Sam Maniscalco, a 91 percent free-throw shooter who was 2-for-4 Monday: “It happens. Sometimes you miss shots. You can’t hang your head on the next play. We just weren’t consistent with our effort, discipline and intensity. Against a good team like that, they’ll take advantage of it and they did.”
Western Carolina (8-1) shot 49 percent from the field and scored in a variety of ways. The Catamounts hit nine 3-pointers, but they also established a nice inside game on post-ups and drives to the basket.
“When we did defend, that’s how we got the 10-point lead,” Les said. “We defended well in the first half, created a little separation and then we relaxed. That can’t happen.
“When we’ve got five guys in tandem making plays on the defensive end, they’re awfully disruptive. But we had some simple breakdowns tonight that can’t occur.”
BU cut that 69-60 deficit to 69-66 at 1:43 on six consecutive points by Maniscalco. But the Braves were forced to foul, and the visitors sank six free throws in the final 52 seconds to seal the victory.
Bradley created some problems for Western Carolina as well. Forward Taylor Brown hit eight of 10 shots, including 6 of 6 at halftime, and finished with 18 points.
His points came in a variety of ways — on drives, on 3s, on pull-up jumpers.
“We really had trouble guarding Taylor Brown, especially in the first half,” Hunter said. “He’s so athletic, versatile and strong. In the second half we tried to make it one on three instead of one on one when we were defending him.”
Andrew Warren was the one BU player who converted his free throws (8-for-10), but he struggled shooting (3-for-12 and 0-for-5 on 3s).
Because the Catamounts likely are headed to a fine season, this could have been a good victory on Bradley’s resume. Instead, Western Carolina gets a solid road victory.
“We haven’t had a lot of tradition in our program and it’s been a while since we’ve beaten a Missouri Valley team, especially someone like Bradley,” Hunter said. “They’re going to win a lot of games. It’s a significant win for us.”
Braves briefs: Dodie Dunson attended his first BU game since breaking his left arm in the Braves’ home opener, against Idaho State. Dunson was all smiles as usual, excited he was getting his hard cast off in one week and could begin a rehabilitation program. ... WEEK-TV (25) will air a Bradley special at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. ... Billy Stone Service Awards were presented at halftime to Craig Dahlquist, Bud Grimm, Jerry Hayden, Ron Sulaski and Jim Watson, who is ill and could not attend. His family accepted his award.
Dave Reynolds can be reached at 686-3210 or
