Bradley Braves Defeat Belmont Bruins in Overtime

Top MVC team falls to Bradley in thrilling overtime matchup at Carver Arena

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Bradley Braves took down the top team in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), the Belmont Bruins, with a 95-84 win in overtime on Monday night at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois.

Why it matters

This victory over the conference-leading Bruins is a significant boost for the Bradley Braves as they look to improve their standing in the MVC standings and potentially earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

The game was a close battle throughout regulation, with the score tied at the end of the second half. In the overtime period, the Braves were able to pull away and secure the 11-point win over the Bruins.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 9, 2026 at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois.
  • The game went into overtime after the score was tied at the end of regulation.

The players

Timoty van der Knaap

A player for the Bradley Braves who was seen smiling as he left the court after the overtime victory.

Jaquan Johnson

A Bradley Braves player who celebrated a Belmont turnover late in the overtime period.

AJ Smith

A Bradley Braves player who hyped up the crowd after a Belmont turnover late in the overtime period.

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What they’re saying

“This win over the top team in our conference is a huge boost for our program. We're excited to keep building on this momentum.”

— Jaquan Johnson, Bradley Braves Player (pjstar.com)

What’s next

The Bradley Braves will look to build on this overtime victory as they continue their conference schedule, with their next game scheduled for this Saturday against the Illinois State Redbirds.

The takeaway

The Bradley Braves' thrilling overtime win against the conference-leading Belmont Bruins demonstrates the team's ability to compete with the top programs in the MVC and sets them up for a strong finish to the regular season.