PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant second-half surge, the Bradley Braves overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks 87 to 77 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

A crowd of 4,932 watched as the Braves, who improved to 2-3, used a 49-point second-half explosion to erase a five-point intermission hole and hand the River Hawks their fifth consecutive loss, dropping their record to 1-5.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Massachusetts-Lowell holding a slim 43-38 lead at the break. The River Hawks were efficient early, but the game’s momentum shifted decisively after halftime. Bradley opened the second period on a 15-2 run, spearheaded by their backcourt, to seize control they would not relinquish.

Bradley’s victory was fueled by superior offensive execution and disruptive defense. The Braves scored 87 points on just 65 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 133.1, and capitalized on their opportunities from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 20 three-point attempts. Defensively, they harassed the River Hawks into 11 turnovers while committing only nine themselves, and their eight steals led to several transition baskets, resulting in 18 fastbreak points.

Jaquan Johnson, a guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, led all scorers with 21 points for Bradley, showcasing his efficiency in 27 minutes of action. He was complemented by forward AJ Smith of Edwardsville, Illinois, who added 20 points. Guard Alex Huibregtse from Grafton, Wisconsin, provided a crucial all-around performance with 13 points, 4 assists and relentless defensive energy.

Massachusetts-Lowell was led by JJ Massaquoi, who scored 18 points off the bench. Darrel Yepdo contributed 14 points and Austin Green added 13, but the River Hawks’ offense struggled to maintain its first-half rhythm against Bradley’s intensified pressure after halftime. The team managed only three assists total, a statistic that underscored their difficulties in generating clean looks against the Braves’ defense.

While the River Hawks shot a respectable 48.1 percent from the field and were effective at the free-throw line, making 22 of 26 attempts, they were ultimately outpaced by Bradley’s hotter shooting and greater number of possessions. Bradley made 29 of 56 field goal attempts, good for 51.8 percent.

The game’s statistical profile highlighted Bradley’s advantages in key hustle categories. The Braves collected 12 offensive rebounds leading to second-chance points and their bench outscored the River Hawks’ reserves. The teams were even in points in the paint with 38 apiece and points off turnovers with 21 each, but Bradley’s proficiency from deep and ability to convert steals into easy baskets proved to be the difference.

The result defied the pregame betting line, where Bradley was favored by 19.5 points, but the combined score of 164 points comfortably exceeded the over/under line of 149.

Massachusetts-Lowell will look to snap its losing streak on the road against Saint Peter’s on Saturday. Bradley, meanwhile, travels to Kissimmee, Florida, to face Princeton on Monday as part of its upcoming tournament schedule.