PEORIA, IL -- The Bradley Braves have advanced into the second round of the 2025 NIT after defeating North Alabama 71-62 in a hard-fought game at Carver Arena on March 19, 2025. In what was an intense matchup, the Braves demonstrated their strength in the first half, building a commanding lead that ultimately secured their progression in the tournament.
The Braves came out with a bang, beginning the game with an impressive 14-0 run, which included an 11-0 stretch leading to the first media timeout. Duke Deen highlighted this run by making his 263rd career three-pointer, breaking the previous record set by Jeremy Crouch, who made 262 in his tenure. By the end of the night, Deen had further solidified his legacy, finishing the game with a total of 264 threes in 105 career games.
Timoty van der Knaap and Demarion Burch were key contributors for Bradley, as they combined for 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. However, it was the senior duo of Christian Davis and Darius Hannah that led the scoring for the Braves, with Hannah putting up 17 points and Davis netting 13 points.
Off the bench, Jaquan Johnson’s performance was remarkable, as he collected 11 points, four steals, and two rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. This depth proved to be crucial, with Bradley’s bench outscoring North Alabama’s bench 31 points to 11.
At halftime, the Braves held a solid lead of 39-21, having shot 50% from three-point range and 48.3% overall in the first half. Contrastingly, North Alabama had a tough time, struggling to find their rhythm and shooting only 25% from the field, including a meager 1-of-7 from three-point territory.
Despite a rocky start, North Alabama rallied in the second half, showcasing their tenacity and improving their shooting percentage to 43.3%. The Lions fought their way back and even reduced the deficit to just four points at the 2:05 mark, trailing 63-59. Donte Bacchus led the Lions with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Jacari Lane contributed 12 points and four assists. Lane concluded the season with 1,494 career points, setting a record as the school’s leading scorer at the Division I level.
In the closing minutes, although Bradley's shooting slump allowed their opponent to close in, they maintained control of the game, thanks in part to their 13-of-22 success from the free-throw line in the second half. Notably, Bradley’s second-half shooting was significantly lower, clocking in at just 31% from the field. Still, their early dominance and strategic plays helped seal the victory.
The Braves' potential was underscored by their strong defensive performance, which kept North Alabama from executing a full comeback. Coach Brian Walder's squad, with their depth and resilient start, will face George Mason, the second-seeded team, in the NIT second round. This matchup is slated for March 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST, and will be streamed on ESPN.
Conversely, North Alabama's season comes to a close with a commendable record of 24-11, their most wins in a single season since 2008. Under the leadership of head coach Tony Pujol, the Lions celebrated numerous achievements including participating for the first time in the NIT and being crowned the 2024-25 Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Champions.
The Lions’ roster saw three players reach the 1,000 career points milestone this season: Daniel Ortiz scored 1,315 points (8th all-time), Lane (1,494 points), and Will Soucie, who ends his career with 1,124 points. This marks a notable achievement as it is the first time since 1971 that North Alabama has had three active scorers on the 1,000-point list.
As the Bradley Braves look ahead to their next challenge, both teams can reflect on their performances as an exciting chapter of college basketball involves many highs, breaking records, and marking significant milestones.
