Peoria Standard

The Bradley Braves (3-3) were looking to rebound after a tough, but competitive loss to the nationally-ranked Auburn Tigers last night. They drew the Liberty Flames (3-3) in the consolation game of the Riveria Division of the Cancun Classic. The Flames had, like Bradley, just lost to a power five conference opponent the night prior; Northwestern, in the case of the Flames. 

LOW SCORING START
Nearly 90 seconds went off the board before either team found the bottom of the basket, when Malevy Leons hit a jumper for the 2-0 lead. It could be called competitive, it could be called 'lid on the basket', but the half saw the game stay within a possession. It wasn't until a free throw from the Flames put them up 15-11 with about five minutes to go in the first half that either team led by multiple scores. Jumpers by Leons and Connor Hickman put the game right back where it was. Just as Liberty had gotten their largest lead of the game at six points, the two teams traded dunks, with Darius Hannah and Blake Preston each slamming it home within the last 30 seconds. When the clock hit zeros, there were 40 combined points on the scoreboard, 23-17 Liberty. 

FLAMING HOT SECOND HALF
Coming out of the locker room, Liberty got off to as quality a start as possible. Darius McGhee, one of the primary defensive concerns going into the game for the Braves, hit a trey just 20 seconds into the second half. A three-pointer, jumper, and free throw expanded the Flames' lead to 15 points with 16:42 left. Bradley kept fighting back, with Darius Hannah hitting a jumper with 12:28 to go, making it a 32-23 game. Malevy Leons went on a personal 5-0 run to pull the Braves within 43-34. McGhee hit another three-ball to put the lead right back at 15 with about five minutes left, putting the Braves in a must-score situation. Just like how it had been to this point of the game, the Braves continued to try and chip away, but this time, it stayed in double figures. Malevy Leons finished the game on a high note with another dunk. Liberty, however, would walk away with the 55-44 win. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Malevy Leons had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. 

Darius Hannah had a well-rounded stat line of eight points, five rebounds, and three blocks. 

Original source can be found here.