ISU Sycamores stumble at Bradley, 52-42

PEORIA, IL (1-3-2004) - Marcellus Sommerville recorded game-highs in points (17), and rebounds (11) as the Bradley Braves downed Indiana State 52-42 on Saturday (Jan. 3) at Carver Arena. The Sycamores were unable to connect from the outside, as they shot just 2-of-15 from three-point range for the game.

Trailing 27-19 at half, ISU saw the Braves extend their lead to twelve (40-28) midway through the second stanza. Eric Gray (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) hit a three-point shot to cut the lead to nine (40-31) before Ted Morris (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade HS) converted a three point play to pull the Sycamores to within six (40-34). Morris then scored off a feed from Wilfred Antoine (New Orleans, La./Coffeyville JC) to give the Trees an 8-0 run and make the score 40-36.

Four straight points from James Gillingham gave the Braves an eight-point edge (44-36). The Sycamores would go on to score just six points in the final seven minutes of the game to fall 52-42. Gillingham finished with 13 points for BU, while Marcello Robinson added ten.

Morris and Amani Daanish (Los Angeles, Calif./Cowley CC) led the Sycamores, as each scored eight points. David Moss (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) grabbed a team-high ten rebounds, but was limited to just five points. ISU shot just 15-of-42 (.357) from the field, and committed 17 turnovers in the game.

Daanish opened the scoring with a driving layup before Jerod Adler (Monroe, Ind./Adams Central HS) gave the Sycamores a 4-0 cushion. Bradley responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead (9-4). The Braves built their lead to as many as nine points (22-13) in the opening half, before settling for a 27-19 bulge at the intermission.

ISU falls to 5-5 (1-1 MVC) on the season, while Bradley moves to 8-4 (1-0 MVC). The Sycamores return to action on Wednesday (Jan. 7) when they host Southern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 6:05 p.m. CST at Hulman Center. The entire Sycamores' 2003-2004 men's basketball season will be carried live via Internet Audio streaming on USA-365.com. Brian Fritz calls the play-by-play and Jim Waugh provides the color commentary. Wednesday's pregame show starts at 5:40 p.m. and the tip-off is at 6:05 p.m., CST / 7:05 p.m., EST.

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