Preview: Illinois State at Bradley in Key Missouri Valley Clash PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — A pivotal Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup with significant postseason implications is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, as the Bradley Braves host the Illinois State Redbirds at Carver Arena. Both teams enter with identical 18-10 overall records, adding high stakes to the in-state rivalry. The game is a quick rematch of a Jan. 17 meeting in Normal, where Illinois State dominated in an 88-62 victory. Bradley will seek to avenge that loss and protect its home court. Illinois State arrives with momentum from a 78-61 home win over Murray State on Wednesday. The Redbirds have shown volatility, however, sandwiching that win between a 27-point road loss to Illinois-Chicago and a narrow home loss to Southern Illinois earlier this month. Guard Tyreek Coleman is the catalyst, coming off a 22-point, 4-assist performance against Murray State. Over his last five games, Coleman is averaging 15.2 points, though his scoring output has fluctuated. Bradley looks to rebound from a 79-72 road loss at Valparaiso on Wednesday. The Braves’ recent form has been mixed, with a strong overtime win over Belmont followed by a low-scoring defeat at Northern Iowa last week. Guard Alex Huibregtse leads the charge, scoring 22 points in the loss to Valpo. He has been a consistent offensive threat, averaging 18.1 points over his last seven contests, including a 29-point outburst at Drake. The contest features two teams battling for positioning in the crowded MVC standings. Illinois State’s offense, which exploded for 86 points in its last outing, will test a Bradley defense that has allowed an average of 73.3 points in its last three games. Conversely, Bradley will rely on Huibregtse and the support of Jaquan Johnson (14 points vs. Valpo) to penetrate an Illinois State defense that has been stout at times but surrendered 83 points in its recent loss to UIC. With the conference tournament approaching, this matchup serves as a critical tiebreaker and resume-builder. The Redbirds aim to complete a regular-season sweep, while the Braves are focused on defending their home floor and reversing the result from January to solidify their conference standing. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at Carver Arena.