Bradley dashes Southeast's upset bid early

~ The Redhawks finished their nonconference schedule 4-4.

PEORIA, Ill. -- If the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team hoped Bradley would be looking ahead to Tuesday's highly anticipated home game with 10th-ranked Michigan State, it didn't happen.

The Braves were plenty focused from the start Saturday night as they built a big lead early and cruised to a 90-72 victory.

Bradley, picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference, is 6-2. The Braves have won 28 consecutive home games against nonconference opponents.

"We wanted to really get out and get after this team," Bradley's Jeremy Crouch said. "I thought overall we stayed focused."

Southeast fell to 4-4 in its final contest before Ohio Valley Conference play begins Thursday at home against Tennessee State. The Redhawks had a two-game winning streak snapped.

"They are a very good basketball team," Southeast coach Scott Edgar said. "When you play up in conferences, you face a bigger, more athletic player."

Edgar knew the Redhawks' transition defense would have to be solid because Bradley likes to push the ball at every opportunity.

Southeast largely failed in slowing down the Braves' running game as they constantly beat the Redhawks down the court.

The result was a flurry of either open 3-pointers, easy baskets or free throws after being fouled on drives to the hoop.

"They're one of the fastest teams we've played," Southeast senior forward Brandon Foust said.

Said Edgar: "I was very impressed as I watched them on tape. They're a tremendous team in transition. It worried me all week how fast they get all five players down the floor."

Southeast did not help itself with 23 turnovers, including 15 during a decisive first half that ended with Bradley ahead 46-30.

Sophomore point guard Roderick Pearson got into early foul trouble, which hampered Southeast.

The Redhawks also did not help themselves by failing to locate Crouch too many times.

Crouch, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, tied for the national lead in 3-point shooting as a junior at 50 percent.

Crouch entered play Saturday hitting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc. He improved that by going 7-of-9 on his way to a season-high 25 points.

"We just did a pretty good job of moving the ball," said Crouch when asked how surprised he was to be open so many times.

Said Edgar: "They had great movement. They're getting the ball down there before you get set."

Senior point guard Daniel Ruffin, the nation's active career assists leader with 533, had eight assists to go along with 10 points for the Braves.

Ruffin and Crouch both averaged 13.8 points per game last year to rank as the MVC's top returning scorers. They are combining for more than 30 points per game so far this year.

"All four teams we've lost to had senior guards," Edgar said. "That makes a big difference."

Southeast was led by Foust with 17 points. He has 53 points in the past three games.

Junior swingman Jaycen Herring also continued to be a consistent offensive threat for Southeast. He scored 13 points and has 53 in the last four games.

Junior guard Kenard Moore hit 3-of-6 3-pointers and added a season-high 11 points for the Redhawks.

Crouch drilled two 3-pointers in the opening two minutes as Bradley jumped on top 6-0.

Southeast never caught up as the Braves steadily widened their lead and entered the break ahead 46-30.

"The thing I'm most pleased with is we started the game well," Bradley coach Jim Les said. "We didn't talk about it [the Michigan State game]. They knew about the respect I had for Southeast Missouri coming in here."

Southeast made one push in the second half, closing within 60-51, but Bradley answered with an 8-0 run and the rout was on again.

Bradley's biggest advantage was 87-61 before the Braves cleared their bench in the final minutes.

"I thought in the second half that we came out and scrapped," Edgar said.

The Braves shot 11-of-25 from 3-point range (44 percent) and finished 28-of-62 from the field overall (45.2 percent).

Southeast hit only 6-of-21 3-pointers (28.6 percent), but was a respectable 26-of-56 from the floor overall (46.4 percent).

Bradley had a solid advantage from the free-throw line, making 23-of-33 compared to 14-of-20 for Southeast.

Senior center Mike Rembert, who played at Bradley for two years and is now in his second season at Southeast, said he was disappointed in the result, but not the effort.

"We played hard," said Rembert, who had five points.

Now Southeast will be able to turn its full attention to the OVC schedule.

"We're ready," Foust said. "We're 4-4, but we're looking at it like we're 0-0."