MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP)—Phillip Gilbert and Marcellus Sommerville each scored 20 points to lead Bradley past Central Michigan 71-65 Wednesday.
Bradley (5-1) built a 15-point lead in the second half but the Chippewas (1-4) clawed their way back and, with 2:41 left in the game, tied it on a Brandon Voorhees 3-pointer.
Sommerville sank a 3-pointer for a 67-63 lead and the Chippewas never got closer than four points the rest of the way as Bradley tossed in four-straight free throws to wrap up the win.
Central survived nearly a 14 minute stretch during the first half without a field goal and only trailed 33-28 at the half.
The Braves shot 50 percent from the three-point line for the difference. Meanwhile, the Chippewas shot just 33 percent from the floor in the first half but connected on 52 percent in the second.
Jason Faulknor added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Braves while Gerrit Brigitha scored 15 to lead the Chippewas.
Freshman David Hoskins added 13 for Central Michigan and T.J. Meerman and Kevin Nelson both had 12.