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INDIANAPOLIS - Junior Camron Justice scored 15 of his game-high 27 points at the foul line and Ahmed Ismail chipped in 13 points and five boards off the Jaguars' bench as IUPUI roared past Bradley, 85-73 inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Wednesday night (Nov. 28). IUPUI (5-2) extended the program's best start since the 2009 season by launching out to a 13-2 lead to start the game and staving off the Braves (6-2) every time they crept back in the game. 

"I liked how we fired back at them every time they made it close," head coach Jason Gardner said. "That's what I was most proud of. We never backed down. We knew they were going to get some [defensive] stops and make their runs, but we answered every time. I think that shows a little bit of toughness on our part. 

"It helps when you're playing at home, but you still have to go out and make plays. That's what it came down to and I liked how our guys did a good job of making plays."

Luuk van Bree had 18 points off the Bradley bench and Darrell Brown finished with 15 points and three assists. 

IUPUI got the start it wanted, pounding the ball inside to Elyjah Goss and Evan Hall to start the game. The duo scored the team's first nine points before Grant Weatherford got on the board with a steal near midcourt that he turned into at three-point play in transition. The Jags added a bonus point when Justice swished a free throw after Bradley was called for an administrative technical when a player wearing a number other than what was in the scorebook. The Jaguars extended out to a 24-10 lead when Nick Rogers splashed a three, but Bradley fired back with a 15-0 run to take a 25-24 lead with 6:30 to play before halftime.

The Jags rebuilt a double-digit lead, largely behind Justice's hot shooting, before settling for a 44-38 lead at the break. 

IUPUI pitched a shutout for nearly six minutes to start the second half, but only scored seven points of its own during that stretch to make it 51-38. The Braves closed within four with 8:55 to play after Elijah Childs split a pair of free throws, but the Jags stayed cool and received contributions from numerous sources down the stretch. 

There was a Goss baseline layup off a brilliant D.J. McCall drive and dish. Grant Weatherford scored on a tough drive to the hole on which he thought he drew a foul as well. 

Ismail and Justice combined on a five-point possession that all but sealed the deal with just under six minutes to play. Ismail dropped in a layup, drawing a foul on van Bree on the play. As the teams lined up for the ensuing free throw, BU's Childs was whistled for a technical for barking at an official. Justice stepped up and swished both freebies before Ismail capped the three-point play with a make of his own. The lead remained in double-figures for the rest of the night. 

IUPUI shot 51 percent against a typically stingy Bradley defense, while holding the Braves to just 45 percent overall. IUPUI won the glass 32-30 and outscored the Braves 36-26 in the paint. 

Ismail made 5-of-7 shots in close while Goss was 6-of-7 as part of a career-high 12 point scoring night. Hall closed with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting and Weatherford closed with eight points. 

The Jags hit 29-of-39 (74.4 percent) free throws, keyed by Justice's perfect 15-of-15 night. 

IUPUI improved to 5-2 for just the fourth time in the program's Division I era, joining the ranks of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 teams. The Jaguars' five November wins also matched the program's most since 2009. With the win, IUPUI improved to 3-3 all-time against Bradley. 

IUPUI will continue the five-game homestand on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 1) when the Jaguars host Ball State at 1:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. As part of Jag-A-Thon Day at the game, the IUPUI Athletics Department will recognize selected families and student ambassadors for this spring's IUPUI Dance Marathon. In addition, the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) and IUPUI Hall of Famer Bob Lovell (analyst) are on the call.