VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — A surging Bradley squad looks to sweep the season series when it visits Valparaiso in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Braves (18-9, 9-5 MVC) have won four of their last five, including a 72-65 victory over the Beacons on Feb. 3 in Peoria. Bradley is coming off a 70-60 road win at Southern Illinois on Sunday, powered by a 24-point, seven-rebound effort from guard Jaquan Johnson. Johnson has been the catalyst for Bradley’s offense, averaging 21.4 points over his last five games. He erupted for 31 points and seven assists in a win over Belmont on Feb. 9. His backcourt play will be central to Bradley’s hopes of securing a valuable conference road win. Valparaiso (14-13, 7-7) aims to defend its home court and split the series after a narrow 76-75 home win over Indiana State on Sunday. Guard Brody Whitaker led the Beacons with 21 points in that contest, bouncing back from a quiet four-point performance in the earlier loss to Bradley. The Beacons have shown resilience, winning three of their last five, but consistency has been an issue. They followed a road win at Drake with a 22-point loss at Illinois State last week. Containing Johnson and improving offensive execution will be paramount for Valparaiso, which sits two games below .500 in league play. Bradley holds a significant edge in the standings and seeks to solidify its position for the upcoming conference tournament. Valparaiso, hovering around the middle of the pack, needs a signature win to bolster its resume. The Braves’ offensive firepower, led by Johnson, will test a Valparaiso defense that allowed 86 points in its last road outing. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST Wednesday.