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Bradley Grabs 2nd Successive MVC Tournament Crown

(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Members of Bradley celebrate after defeating Valparaiso 80-66 during an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Missouri Valley Conference men's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020, in St. Louis.

Darrell Brown scored 21 points and Elijah Childs added 17 to lead fourth-seeded Bradley to its 10th NCAA Tournament with an 80-66 win over seventh-seeded Valparaiso in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game on Sunday. Ja’Shon Henry scored 16 points for the fourth-seeded Braves, Nate Kennell chipped in with 14 points and Ville Tahvanainen added 10. Javon Freeman-Liberty paced seventh-seeded Valparaiso with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Bradley (23-11) claimed its fourth MVC title and became the ninth team in MVC history to defend its tournament crown Valparaiso (19-16) led 48-42 with 14:27 left in the contest. Bradley used a 7-0 run midway through the second half to go in front to stay, 56-51. Henry snapped a 51-all tie with a fallaway jumper. Tahvanainen then drilled 3-pointer to push the lead to five. The Braves were a 15th-seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament and lost to Michigan State 76-65 in the opening round. Bradley’s 23 victories is the most since the 1993-94 team went 23-8 under coach Jim Molinari.

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