Bradshaw the Difference for USIU

Gary Zarecky had seen this before. And the picture in his mind was not what one he wanted to see again:

His U.S. International University men’s basketball team holding a tenuous two-point lead in the final seconds only to miss a couple one-and-ones down the stretch. Another loss.

But in those days. Zarecky did not have Kevin Bradshaw.

Bradshaw erased some of those bad memories by making both ends of two one-and-ones in the final 25 seconds as USIU held on to defeat Drake, 87-83, before 300 at Golden Hall in the season opener.

“If you could have been in my mind,” Zarecky said. “I’ve seen this before at this school. Where someone misses a front end or hits a three-pointer and it’s so frustrating.”

Instead of frustrated, Zarecky was elated.

The Gulls unveiled Bradshaw, the player Zarecky said is one of the best on the West Coast and one he expects to put USIU over .500 since it was 13-12 in 1980-81.

Bradshaw ran amuck in the first half, scoring 24 points, including four of six from three-point range. Drake caught on in the second half and glued guard Rodney Chamble to Bradshaw the rest of the game.

Bradshaw finished with a game-high 38 points, including 11 of 13 from the free throw line.

But it wasn’t just Bradshaw that had Zarecky smiling. It was also the fact the Gulls did not fade, like they have in the past in tight games.

And USIU had plenty of opportunities to throw it, even after pushing its 49-39 halftime lead to 14 points early in the second half.

Drake, which had got caught up in USIU’s running game, settled down and outscored USIU, 9-2, to cut the lead to 59-52, despite losing its top two-scorers to fouls in a span of 19 seconds. Sam Roark, who finished with 18 points, fouled out with 7:29 remaining and Kevin Sams, who had 18, left just after.

But Drake pulled within 79-78 on a turnaround jumper inside by Alessandro Donaldson with 1:46 left.

But with the Gulls leading, 83-81, Bradshaw stepped to line and sank both ends of a one-and-one with 26 seconds remaining. Bradshaw was fouled again with seven seconds left and Drake called a time out to left him cool off. Instead, Bradshaw iced the victory by making both shots.