PEORIA, Ill. (AP) Marcellus Sommerville scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds Friday to lead Bradley over Southeast Missouri State 77-73 in each team's regular season opener.
Three other players scored double-digit points for the Braves. Tony Bennett put in 15, Patrick O'Bryant scored 13 and Lawrence Wright added 10 in the win.
The Braves shot 49 percent from the field in the first half, while holding Southeast Missouri to just 33 percent shooting. Bradley (1-0) held a 38-23 at halftime.
But Southeast Missouri State (0-1) nearly doubled its field goal percentage in the second half, shooting 64 percent and cutting the Braves lead to two points with just 12 seconds remaining in the game. Bennett answered for the Braves with a breakaway dunk and a key offensive rebound late in the game to seal the win for Bradley.
Dainmon Gonner led the Indians with 36 points and eight rebounds. Reggie Golson added 15 points and 6 rebounds in the loss.
