Updated March 7, 2026, 5:56 p.m. CT
ST. LOUIS — The Bradley Braves are lined as much as play Northern Iowa within the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinals at Enterprise Center on Saturday night.
The two deans of the Valley teaching ranks, BU’s Brian Wardle (two titles) and UNI’s Ben Jacobson (4 titles) will match strikes on the sidelines.
Wardle is attempting to get Bradley to the Arch Madness finals for the fifth time (2-2).
Bradley made a push at the top with a 3-pointer and three free throws from A.J. Smith to chop an 18-point deficit to 13 at the half. UNI took a 45-32 result in the break.
The Braves slipped behind 16-12 at the primary media break as UNI’s Trey Campbell hit a pair of mid-range jumpers.
There was an ongoing bodily battle within the paint between 7-foot-1 BU heart Ahmet Jonovic and 6-8, 235-pound UNI heart Will Hornseth. Jonovic was pressured to the bench with two fouls within the first 5 minutes.
UNI rattles off seven factors in 90 seconds for a 27-17 lead, forcing Bradley to take a timeout with 8:31 left within the half. Panthers guard RJ Taylor completed that off with a stepback 3 and a jumper.
The Braves are having hassle getting inside towards Northern Iowa’s protection. They have light to a 34-19 deficit with 4:35 left within the first half.
Montana Wheeler fires up an air ball, UNI gathers it in and heads the opposite method, and Trey Campbell sticks it for a 3-pointer and a 37-19 lead with 4:09 left within the half.
Arch Madness odds
Who do the oddsmakers suppose will win the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and the automated bid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with it?
Here are odds posted by FanDuel:
- Belmont +145
- Northern Iowa +480
- Bradley +500
- Illinois State +600
- Murray State +1000
- UIC +1100
- Southern Illinois +2000
- Valparaiso +4000
- Indiana State +10,000
- Drake +12,500
- Evansville +30,000
Who the Braves may face
Bradley will play Valparaiso on Saturday. They break up their video games this season.
Bradley and Bracketology
ESPN bracketology maven Joe Lunardi’s newest projection for the NCAA Tournament has Bradley as a No. 14 seed taking part in No. 3 Purdue within the St. Louis group.
Bradley is the No. 2 seed within the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, regardless that they’ve had a tricky experience with analytic websites this season.
BU is seventh within the convention in Kenpom rankings, and fifth amongst Valley groups within the NCAA’s NET ranks.
NCAA NET: Belmont 55; UNI 82; Illinois State 91; Murray State 103; Bradley 111; SIU 115; UIC 117; Valparaiso 154; Drake 209; Indiana State 215; Evansville 307.
KenPom: Belmont 56; UNI 82; Illinois State 95; UIC 111; Southern Illinois 115; Murray State 117; Bradley 124; Valparaiso 155; Indiana State 204; Drake 214; Evansville 312.
Bravely Speaking
Bradley is 21-11. … Bradley star guard Jaquan Johnson now has 82 steals, tying Hersey Hawkins at 82 (1987-88) for third on the BU all-time single-season record. The BU document is 86, held by Dyricus Simms-Edwards (2012-13). … Johnson is third within the nation with 82 steals. … The Braves had 12 steals towards Valpo, giving them 256 steals for the season, led by Johnson with 82 and A.J. Smith with 43. A high 10 spot on this system all-time single season record would require 260 (1980-81 BU staff). … A.J. Smith had 12 factors and 9 rebounds. … Word is the Valley expects at least 20 assistants from high-major applications to attend the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this weekend in St. Louis. … This is the fiftieth Arch Madness event; 43 of 49 champions have come from the highest three seeds. The Nos. 1 and a pair of seeds have 36 titles. … Bradley is above .500 towards 8 of the ten different faculties within the MVC tourney. They have by no means confronted Belmont and are beneath .500 vs SIU. … The Braves have received the Valley tourney 10 occasions (second-most) and have 44 Arch Madness wins, second solely to Illinois State’s 47. … Only 11 coaches have received the Arch Madness tourney greater than as soon as. Bradley’s Brian Wardle (twice) is one in all them. UNI coach Ben Jacobson has 4 title wins, second-most in tourney historical past. … No staff within the MVC event historical past has received 4 video games in 4 days to take the title. … Only as soon as has a No. 7 seed or worse reached the Valley title recreation (Valpo, No. 7, 2020). … Northern Iowa comes into Saturday’s semifinal towards Bradley at 21-12 on the season. The Braves break up the regular-season collection with a 75-69 win at Carver Arena and 61-49 street loss within the rematch. … Bradley leads the all-time collection with UNI 40-39. The Braves are 4-3 towards the Panthers at Arch Madness.
The Journal Star offers updates from Enterprise Center in St. Louis. See highlights beneath:
Bradley vs. Northern Iowa stay rating updates
| TEAMS | 1st half | 2nd half | — | FINAL |
| Northern Iowa | 45 | 00 | — | 00 |
| Bradley | 32 | 00 | — | 00 |
HALFTIME: Northern Iowa 45, Bradley 32
Braves completed the half on an 11-6 experience, getting 3 free throws and a 3-pointer from A.J. Smith to chop the deficit to 13.
Demarion Burch arrives
The Braves, down 41-27 with 1:58 left, ship in guard Demarion Burch for Timoty van der Knaap. It’s the primary look by Burch for the reason that Feb. 24 recreation towards UIC.
UNI 37, Bradley 19
Montana Wheeler fires up an air ball, UNI gathers it in and heads the opposite method, and Trey Campbell sticks it for a 3-pointer and a 37-19 lead with 4:09 left within the half.
Stick out that tongue
Northern Iowa goes up 32-19 with 6:18 left within the half when Leon Bond III launches in a 3-pointer from the left wing, then retreats down the ground protruding his tongue.
UNI breaks it open
UNI rattles off seven factors in 90 seconds for a 27-17 lead, forcing Bradley to take a timeout with 8:31 left within the half.
Ben Schwieger hits a jumper. Then BU huge man Corey Thomas misses at the rim because the shot clock expires, and RJ Taylor comes down and hits a stepback 3.
Braves attempt to reply with a 3 by freshman Montana Wheeler, but it surely would not go. UNI cleans up the rebound, feed Taylor, and he knocks in a jumper for 27-17.
UNI up by 6
Ben Schwieger hits a jumper for an 18-12 UNI lead because the 12-minute mark arrives.
Kai Yu within the recreation for Bradley, and he will be essential over these subsequent minutes as Jonovic sits with foul hassle.
Super-charged opening minutes
Northern Iowa opens a 12-9 lead within the first 5:33 with a pair of mid-range jumpers from Trey Campbell.
Big battle happening within the paint between 7-foot-1 BU heart Ahmet Jonovic and 6-8 UNI heart Will Hornseth.
They are banging on one another relentlessly, and Jonovic pressured to the bench with two fouls early.
- Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
- Time: 5 p.m. CT
- Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo.
Bradley vs Northern Iowa might be obtainable through CBS Sports Network.
Record: 21-11
- Nov. 3: St. Bonaventure 69, Bradley 66 | RECAP
- Nov. 8: Bradley 85, Central Michigan 54 | RECAP
- Nov. 12: University Tennessee-Martin 78, Bradley 67 | RECAP
- Nov. 15: San Francisco 75, Bradley 64 | RECAP
- Nov. 19: Bradley 87, UMass-Lowell 77 | RECAP
- Nov. 24: Bradley 88, Princeton 64 | RECAP
- Nov. 25: UC San Diego 87, Bradley 77 | RECAP
- Nov. 26: Bradley 74, Liberty 64 | RECAP
- Dec. 2: Bradley 64, Washington State 60 | RECAP
- Dec. 6: Bradley 84, Northern Illinois 55 | RECAP
- Dec. 14: Bradley 86, North Central College 53 | RECAP
- Dec. 18: Bradley 108, Indiana State 99 (3 OT) | RECAP
- Dec. 21: Bradley 73, Southern Illinois 69 | RECAP
- Dec. 29: Bradley 76, Evansville 68 | RECAP
- Jan. 1: Belmont 88, Bradley 78 | RECAP
- Jan. 4: Murray State 86, Bradley 66 | RECAP
- Jan. 7: Bradley 93, Drake 66 | RECAP
- Jan. 10: Bradley 75, Northern Iowa 69 | RECAP
- Jan. 13: Bradley 94, Evansville 90 (OT) | RECAP
- Jan. 17: Illinois State 88, Bradley 62 | RECAP
- Jan. 21: Bradley 75, Indiana State 68 | RECAP
- Jan. 24: UIC 85, Bradley 70 | RECAP
- Jan. 31: Bradley 87, Drake 73 | RECAP
- Feb. 3: Bradley 72, Valparaiso 65 | RECAP
- Feb. 6: UNI 61, Bradley 49 | RECAP
- Feb. 9: Bradley 95, Belmont 84 (OT) | RECAP
- Feb. 15: Bradley 70, Southern Illinois 60 | RECAP
- Feb. 18: Valparaiso 79, Bradley 72 | RECAP
- Feb. 21: Bradley 74, Illinois State 60 | RECAP
- Feb. 24: UIC 93, Bradley 86 (2OT) | RECAP
- March 1: Bradley 87, Murray State 78 | RECAP
- March 5 Quarterfinals: 2 Bradley 90, 7 Valparaiso 84 (2OT)
- March 6 Semifinals: 2 Bradley vs 6 Northern Iowa, 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports activities columnist, and covers Bradley males’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports activities column for pjstar.com. He will be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
