PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and a decisive disparity at the free-throw line, the Bradley Braves overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Indiana State Sycamores 75-68 in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

A crowd of 5,327 watched the Braves improve to 14-7 overall, while Indiana State fell to 9-11. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Bradley, which needed three overtimes to outlast the Sycamores 108-99 in Terre Haute last month.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the second half, where Bradley’s defensive intensity overwhelmed Indiana State. The Braves, who entered the game forcing an average of just over 12 turnovers, harassed the Sycamores into 19 giveaways, converting those mistakes into 22 points. Conversely, Bradley committed only two turnovers, leading to a staggering plus-20 margin in points off turnovers. This defensive dominance fueled a transition game that saw the Braves outscore Indiana State 22-6 in fastbreak points.

Bradley guard Jaquan Johnson, a 5-foot-9 junior from Milwaukee, spearheaded the second-half surge. He scored 12 of his team-high 18 points after halftime, consistently attacking the lane and drawing fouls. His driving layup with 1:29 remaining in the first half had given Bradley its first lead at 34-32, but the Sycamores responded to tie the game at 36 by the break.

The second half belonged to Bradley’s defensive execution. A key sequence occurred just before the under-16-minute media timeout. With Bradley leading 42-40, the Braves forced consecutive Indiana State turnovers, leading to four made free throws by Ahmet Jonovic and Jaquan Johnson. This sparked a 13-4 run that stretched the Bradley lead to 55-44 with 9:12 to play, a margin the Sycamores could not overcome.

Indiana State’s offense, which shot a respectable 51.9 percent from the field for the game, was stifled by its own mistakes and an inability to keep Bradley off the foul line. The Braves attempted 31 free throws, making 26, while Indiana State went just 7 for 10. Bradley’s offensive rebounding also proved crucial, as the Braves grabbed 11 offensive boards leading to 13 second-chance points.

Ian Scott led Indiana State with 15 points, while Sterling Young added 13 and Bruno Alocen contributed 10. For Bradley, Alex Huibregtse joined Johnson in double figures with 13 points, and AJ Smith added 11 points and a game-high three steals.

Despite shooting just 34.9 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from three-point range, Bradley’s formula of defensive pressure, ball security, and free-throw accuracy proved sufficient. The Braves finished with 14 steals, led by Timoty van der Knaap’s three, and dished out 14 assists on their 22 made field goals.

Indiana State, which scored 36 points in the paint, was led in playmaking by Xavier Hall’s seven assists, but the team’s offensive rhythm was repeatedly disrupted by Bradley’s swarming defense. The Sycamores’ last lead came at 40-38 early in the second half before the Braves’ decisive run seized control.

Bradley next hosts Illinois-Chicago on Saturday. Indiana State returns home to face Drake the same day.