PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Bradley had a chance to knock off No. 3 Michigan on Saturday. Boosted by a strong crowd, it trailed by just four at halftime.

The Braves just couldn't find an answer for a freshman making his first start.

Nik Stauskas scored 22 points, leading the undefeated Wolverines to a 74-66 win at Bradley.

"I thought we were pretty good today," Braves coach Geno Ford said. "But I certainly don't think we were great, and that's what it was going to require."

Walt Lemon Jr. led Bradley (5-2) with 15 points. Tyshon Pickett added 11, and Will Egolf finished with 10.

But Egolf, who had eight points in the first half, picked up his fourth foul early in the second and was on the bench for most of the final 20 minutes.

"He gets his fourth foul and that's pretty much when the game got away from us," Ford said.

The 6-foot-6 Stauskas was the biggest problem. He was 8 for 15 from the field, including a 4-for-5 performance from 3-point range. The freshman said he knew he was ready for the expanded role.

"It was a little bit exciting, but when the game starts you've just got to do what you've got to do," he said. "Like I told (Trey Burke), every time I'm open, I'm going to knock it down. ... I owe it all to this guy."

Burke, who had 16 points and five assists, was sitting next to Stauskas when he said he had faith in the freshman.

"I don't think he's lying," Burke joked. "I get on him when he does miss one."

The Wolverines (7-0) extended their best start under coach John Beilein in their first trip to Bradley since 1997. Michigan left town with a loss on that occasion, 74-67.

This visit by the Wolverines attracted a crowd of 11,019 to Carver Arena, the best showing for a Braves home game in five years.

Lemon led Bradley on a late run to close to 70-65 in the final minute. But the Braves were forced to foul and the Wolverines held on for the win.

Stauskas made a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left, and then headed to the sideline for congratulations from coaches and teammates alike.

Glenn Robinson III scored 13 for Michigan, and Jordan Morgan had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Morgan said the smaller, less-heralded Braves provided a tough test, comparable to what he expects when Big Ten play starts.

"They were definitely a really physical team," Morgan said. "It definitely was a battle." Continued...