Bradley Braves Defeat Illinois State Redbirds 74-60
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Carver Arena
Bradley Braves 74, Illinois State Redbirds 60, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Illinois State Redbirds vs Bradley Braves?
Bradley Braves beat Illinois State Redbirds 74-60 at Carver Arena on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Illinois State Redbirds vs Bradley Braves?
Bradley Braves were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -180 (about 64% implied). The favorite won.
The Bradley Braves secured a decisive victory against the Illinois State Redbirds, finishing the game with a score of 74-60. This matchup at Carver Arena showcased the Braves' ability to bounce back after a recent loss, while the Redbirds faced challenges in maintaining their momentum.
Bradley entered the game with a home record of 19-10 and had been displaying mixed form, with a recent record of 6-4 over their last ten games. They averaged 74.6 points scored and 75.3 points allowed during this stretch. Their last game prior to facing Illinois State was a loss to the Valparaiso Beacons, where they fell 72-79. The Braves' recent performance at home showed a slight advantage, with a home record of 3-1 in their last four games.
On the other hand, Illinois State came into the game with an overall record of 18-11 and a similar recent form of 6-4 in their last ten games. They averaged 72.2 points scored and 68.7 points allowed during this period. Their last outing resulted in a win against the Murray State Racers, where they triumphed 78-61. The Redbirds had a stronger home record of 5-1 in their last six games but struggled on the road, with only a 1-3 away record in their last four.
In their previous meetings this season, Bradley had lost to Illinois State 62-88 on January 17, 2026, and had also lost the year before, 71-82. However, they had managed to secure a win against the Redbirds earlier in the 2025 season, winning 61-57 at home. This fixture was crucial for Bradley to even the score in their head-to-head record against Illinois State, which now stands at 2-1 in favor of the Redbirds over the last three matchups.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details regarding player availability, but both teams were expected to field their best lineups for this important game.
The market for this matchup, as provided by DraftKings, had Bradley favored with a spread of -3.5 and a moneyline of -180. Illinois State was listed at +150 on the moneyline. The total for the game was set at 145.5, with odds of -105 for the over and -115 for the under, indicating a balanced expectation for scoring.
The conditions at Carver Arena were conducive to a competitive game, with the home crowd likely providing a significant boost for the Braves. As the game progressed, viewers could watch for key plays from Jaquan Johnson, who made several critical driving layups to help secure the victory for Bradley. His performance was instrumental in the second half, contributing to the Braves' scoring surge that ultimately put the game out of reach for Illinois State.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the resilience of the Bradley Braves as they overcame their recent struggles to deliver a strong performance against a familiar rival.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | BRAD -3.5 | 145.5 o -105 / u -115 | Illinois State Redbirds +150 · Bradley Braves -180 |
Leaders
- PointsJaquan Johnson23Bradley Braves
- AssistsJaquan Johnson4Bradley Braves
- ReboundsAJ Smith8Bradley Braves
- PointsMason Klabo12Illinois State Redbirds
- AssistsJohnny Kinziger5Illinois State Redbirds
- ReboundsMason Klabo7Illinois State Redbirds
Recent form
Bradley Braves
Last 10: 6-4Streak L174.6 scored · 75.3 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L72-79at Valparaiso BeaconsFeb 19
- W70-60at Southern Illinois SalukisFeb 15
- W95-84vs Belmont BruinsFeb 10
- L49-61at Northern Iowa PanthersFeb 7
- W72-65vs Valparaiso BeaconsFeb 4
- W87-73at Drake BulldogsJan 31
- L70-85vs UIC FlamesJan 25
- W75-68vs Indiana State SycamoresJan 22
- L62-88at Illinois State RedbirdsJan 17
- W94-90at Evansville Purple AcesJan 14
Illinois State Redbirds
Last 10: 6-4Streak W172.2 scored · 68.7 allowed per game1-3 away
- W78-61vs Murray State RacersFeb 19
- L56-83at UIC FlamesFeb 15
- W86-64vs Valparaiso BeaconsFeb 13
- L80-88at Evansville Purple AcesFeb 10
- W86-76vs Drake BulldogsFeb 7
- L50-54vs Southern Illinois SalukisFeb 4
- W70-65at Murray State RacersJan 29
- L69-80at Belmont BruinsJan 24
- W59-54vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 22
- W88-62vs Bradley BravesJan 17
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Illinois State Redbirds | Bradley Braves |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-53 | 30-59 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 8-22 | 3-18 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 17 |
| Free throws | 8-10 | 11-16 |
| Free throw % | 80 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 29 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 23 |
| Assists | 11 | 12 |
| Steals | 2 | 9 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 5 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 14 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 48 |
| Fouls | 16 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 18 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 5 | 92 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half27-39Boden Skunberg makes 22-foot three point jumper (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 1st Half27-41Alex Huibregtse makes driving layup
- 1st Half29-41Boden Skunberg makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 1st Half30-41Landon Wolf makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half31-41Landon Wolf makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half31-43Alex Huibregtse makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half31-44Ahmet Jonovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half31-46Timoty van der Knaap makes driving layup
- 2nd Half34-46Landon Wolf makes 25-foot three point jumper (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 2nd Half34-48Timoty van der Knaap makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half34-50Ahmet Jonovic makes 7-foot turnaround jump shot (Timoty van der Knaap assists)
- 2nd Half35-50Mason Klabo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-50Mason Klabo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-51Jaquan Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-52Jaquan Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-54Jaquan Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half38-54Mason Klabo makes driving layup
- 2nd Half40-54Landon Wolf makes layup
- 2nd Half40-56Alex Huibregtse makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half40-57Jaquan Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-58Jaquan Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-58Johnny Kinziger makes 25-foot three point jumper (Landon Wolf assists)
- 2nd Half45-58Landon Wolf makes 11-foot hook shot (Mason Klabo assists)
- 2nd Half48-58Mason Klabo makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ty Pence assists)
- 2nd Half51-58Jack Daugherty makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ty Pence assists)
- 2nd Half53-58Mason Klabo makes driving layup
- 2nd Half54-58Mason Klabo makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half54-59Ahmet Jonovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-60Ahmet Jonovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-60Jack Daugherty makes 25-foot three point jumper (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 2nd Half57-62Ahmet Jonovic makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half57-64AJ Smith makes 2-foot dunk (Jaquan Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half58-64Jack Daugherty makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-66Alex Huibregtse makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-68Jaquan Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-70Jaquan Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-71Montana Wheeler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-71Ty Pence makes layup (Landon Moore assists)
- 2nd Half60-73Jaquan Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-74Jaquan Johnson makes free throw 1 of 1
Win probability
Above the line favours Bradley Braves, below favours Illinois State Redbirds.
Venue
- Carver ArenaPeoria, IL
- Attendance10542
- OfficialsJeff Malham, Gene Grimshaw, James Duke
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