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Johnson scores 23, Bradley takes down Illinois State 74-60
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Johnson scores 23, Bradley takes down Illinois State 74-60

#Bradley Braves #Illinois State Redbirds #Jaquan Johnson #Missouri Valley Conference #College Basketball #Peoria Illinois #February 21 2026

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Jaquan Johnson scored 23 points to lead Bradley to victory
  • Bradley improved to 19-10 overall and 12-6 in conference play
  • The Braves took control early and never trailed after the first 4.5 minutes
  • Both teams are positioned well for postseason tournament play

📖 Full Retelling

Jaquan Johnson scored 23 points to lead the Bradley Braves to a 74-60 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds in Peoria, Illinois on Saturday night, February 21, 2026, as part of the Missouri Valley Conference basketball season. Johnson shot 8 for 16 from the field, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc, and was perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Braves, who improved to 19-10 overall and 12-6 in conference play. The Braves took control early, establishing a lead about 4 1/2 minutes into the game and never trailing again, going into halftime with a comfortable 43-31 advantage. Bradley received significant contributions from Ahmet Jonovic, who added 14 points and six rebounds on efficient shooting of 5 for 7 from the field and 4 for 7 from the charity stripe. Timoty van der Knaap contributed 11 points on 5 for 10 shooting, including six rebounds despite struggling from beyond the arc at 1 for 6. For Illinois State, Mason Klabo led all scorers with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Landon Wolf also chipped in with 12 points. Ty Pence added 11 points and six rebounds for the Redbirds, who fell to 18-11 overall and 10-8 in conference play. The Braves maintained their second-half momentum, outscoring Illinois State by two points in the final 20 minutes as Johnson continued his strong performance with 13 points in the second half. The victory solidified Bradley's position in the upper echelon of the Missouri Valley Conference standings as the regular season approaches its conclusion, with both teams likely preparing for postseason tournament play.

🏷️ Themes

College Basketball, Missouri Valley Conference, Team Performance

📚 Related People & Topics

Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference

US college athletic conference

The Missouri Valley Conference (also called MVC or simply "The Valley") is the fourth-oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The conference's members are primarily located in the Midwest though with substantial extension into the South in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ark...

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Bradley Braves

Bradley Braves

Athletics teams of Bradley University, Illinois

The Bradley Braves are the intercollegiate athletics teams of Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, United States. The Braves' athletic program is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and competes at the NCAA Division I level. The Bradley mascot is Kaboom!

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Illinois State Redbirds

Illinois State Redbirds

Collegiate sports club in the United States

The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level (FCS in football). Most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference except football (Missouri Valley Football Conference), women's gymnastics ...

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College basketball

College basketball

Amateur basketball played by students of higher education institutions

College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athletic bodies, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercolle...

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Jaquan Johnson

Jaquan Johnson

American football player (born 1995)

Jaquan Johnson (born November 13, 1995) is an American professional football safety. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Missouri Valley Conference:

🌐 MVC 1 shared
👤 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 1 shared
👤 College basketball 1 shared
👤 Belmont Bruins 1 shared
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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This victory is significant for Bradley's positioning in the Missouri Valley Conference standings and their momentum heading into postseason play. The win improves their conference record and strengthens their case for a favorable seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

Context & Background

  • Bradley Braves improved to 19-10 overall and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference
  • Illinois State Redbirds fell to 18-11 overall and 10-8 in conference play
  • Bradley took the lead early in the first half and maintained control throughout the game
  • Jaquan Johnson was the game's leading scorer with 23 points

What Happens Next

Both teams will continue their schedules in the final stretch of the regular season before the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Bradley will look to maintain their winning form to secure a high seed, while Illinois State will aim to rebound in their next outing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the leading scorer in the game?

Jaquan Johnson of Bradley was the leading scorer with 23 points.

What was the final score?

Bradley defeated Illinois State by a score of 74-60.

When did Bradley take the lead in the game?

Bradley took the lead about four and a half minutes into the game and never trailed again.

Original Source
Johnson scores 23, Bradley takes down Illinois State 74-60 Led by Jaquan Johnson's 23 points, the Bradley Braves defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 74-60 By The Associated Press February 21, 2026, 11:36 PM PEORIA, Ill. -- Jaquan Johnson's 23 points helped Bradley defeat Illinois State 74-60 on Saturday night. Johnson shot 8 for 16 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Braves (19-10, 12-6 Missouri Valley Conference). Ahmet Jonovic added 14 points and six rebounds while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 4 for 7 from the line. Timoty van der Knaap went 5 of 10 from the field (1 for 6 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points, while adding six rebounds. Mason Klabo led the Redbirds (18-11, 10-8) in scoring, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds. Illinois State also got 12 points from Landon Wolf. Ty Pence also had 11 points and six rebounds. Bradley took the lead about 4 1/2 minutes into the game and did not trail again. Johnson led the Braves with 10 points in the first half to help put them up 43-31 at the break. Bradley outscored Illinois State by two points over the final half as Johnson led the way with a team-high 13 second-half points. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 21, 5:31 PM Trump says he has signed order for new 15% tariff after Supreme Court ruling Feb 21, 4:34 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . Sponsored Content by Taboola Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 21, 5:31 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM Trump says he has signed order for new 15% tariff after Supreme Court ruling Feb 21, 4:34 PM Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arres...
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