PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Bradley squad will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts a struggling Evansville team to open Missouri Valley Conference play on Monday night at Carver Arena. The Braves (9-4) enter on a five-game winning streak, their latest a 73-69 victory over Southern Illinois on Dec. 21. Guard Jaquan Johnson has been instrumental, scoring at least 19 points in four of those five wins, including a 20-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist performance against the Salukis. Conversely, the Purple Aces (4-9) have lost four straight, each by narrow margins. They fell 66-65 to Drake on Dec. 21, preceded by a one-point loss at Western Kentucky and a two-point defeat against Belmont. Their season has been defined by an inability to close out tight games. The matchup features two of the conference’s top individual performers. Evansville will lean heavily on forward Connor Turnbull, who is coming off a dominant 20-point, 15-rebound effort against Drake and has recorded three consecutive double-doubles. His rim protection, with multiple blocks in seven games, will be key against Bradley’s attack. Bradley counters with the backcourt firepower of Johnson, who averages 18 points during the win streak. His backcourt mate, Alex Huibregtse, adds versatility, posting 13 points, six rebounds and five assists in the last outing. Bradley holds a distinct home-court advantage, going 6-1 at Carver Arena this season. Evansville, just 2-4 on the road, must find a way to stem its late-game woes to challenge the favored Braves. The teams will meet again in Evansville on Jan. 13. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST.