Today in Henderson, Nevada, the Bradley Braves basketball team is set to face off against Santa Clara in the highly anticipated 2024 Jack Jones Classic. After an impressive 83 - 60 win over Southern Illinois in the Missouri Valley Conference opener, the Braves are ready to take on their next challenge. BU will play one of three games in this prestigious tournament inside the 5,500 - seat Lee’s Family Forum just outside Las Vegas. The games will be streamed online only at BallerTV, and a $19.99 event pass is required for viewing.

The Bradley Braves' 2024 Showdown - A Battle on the Court

Bradley vs Santa Clara - The Upcoming Matchup

The Bradley Braves and Santa Clara have never faced each other before, adding an extra layer of excitement to this game. The Braves have burst onto the national scene this week with their remarkable 45.3% shooting from 3 - point range, ranking them at the top. Senior forward Darius Hannah leads the team with 18 steals and 6.1 rebounds per game, averaging 12.8 points and shooting an impressive 65.3% from the field. Point guard Duke Deen is shooting 41.3% from 3 and has a team - best 13.8 points per game along with 42 assists. Fellow guard Zek Montgomery is also contributing with 13.8 points per game and shooting 56% from 3 (19 of 34).The Braves' offense is ranked No. 1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while their defense is No. 4. Their margin of victory of 17.4 is the biggest in the Valley. Hannah is third among all Valley players in steals with 18 and fourth in blocked shots with 11. Deen's 42 assists are fourth among Valley players.On the other side, Santa Clara has their own set of talented players. 6 - foot - 5 guard Bryan Tyeree comes off the bench and is shooting 45.9% from 3. 6 - 7, 220 - pound forward Elijah Mahi has a team - best 12.2 points per game, along with 4.6 rebounds and shooting 49.5% from the field. 7 - foot, 240 - pound Berlin, Germany native Christoph Tilly delivers 11.7 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, and shoots 57.3% from the field. The Broncos also have 7 - 1 center Bukky Oboye and 6 - 10 Johnny O’Neil on their roster.

Game Details and Timings

Date: Dec. 14, 2024Time: 3:30 p.m. CTLocation: Lee’s Family Forum, Henderson, NevadaThis game is not only a battle on the court but also a chance for both teams to showcase their skills. Fans can catch all the action by streaming it on BallerTV with a $19.99 event pass.

Bradley's Season Schedule and Recent Wins

The Bradley Braves have had an impressive season so far. They started with a 88 - 60 win over Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 4. Then they faced Washington State on Nov. 8 and lost 91 - 74. But they bounced back with consecutive wins against UTSA (85 - 72), Northern Illinois (76 - 60), Texas State (82 - 68), Middle Tennessee (80 - 69), and Judson (107 - 41). Their most recent win was a 83 - 60 victory over Southern Illinois on Dec. 3.After facing Santa Clara, the Braves will have more games to look forward to. They will play against San Francisco on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at Carver Arena, which will be streamed on ESPN+. On Dec. 21, they will take on Canisius at 7 p.m. also at Carver Arena and again on ESPN+.

Betting Odds and Insights

BetMGM offers the following betting odds for this game: Spread - Bradley +3.5. Money line - Bradley -115, Santa Clara -105. Over - under - 145.5.This shows that the market has some confidence in the Bradley Braves, but Santa Clara is also a strong team. It will be an interesting battle to see how the odds play out on the court.Dave Eminian, the Journal Star sports columnist, covers Bradley men’s basketball and provides regular updates. You can reach him at 686 - 3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.