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Purdue Fort Wayne
IU-East
Mastodons Blanket Red Wolves
11/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2008
Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW head men's basketball coach Dane Fife has been preaching tougher defense to his team. On Tuesday night at the Memorial Coliseum, the Mastodons showed they got the message by holding IU-East to just 36 points in a 79-36 win.
The 'Dons held the Red Wolves scoreless for nearly 10 minutes in the first half while bolting out to a 35-17 half time lead.
IPFW got most of its scoring punch in the opening half from juniors Nick Daniels and Deilvez Yearby who each tossed in 11 points.
The Mastodons put the game away early in the second half by going on a 16-4 run to open the session. Senior forward David Carson rattled off seven consecutive points, sophomore guard Ben Botts knocked down a pair of triples, and sophomore guard Zach Plackemeier finished off the run with a 3-pointer of his own.
IPFW was able to get a look at the entire bench against the Red Wolves.
Every Mastodon cracked the scoring column except freshman guard Seve Beach, but Beach made his presence felt with a couple of highlight worthy assists.
"Our main focus tonight was really concentrating on getting better, and I think we did that to some respect," Fife said.
"We've got a big two game set coming up with Eastern Illinois and Ball State, and that is our focus now."
Four 'Dons tied for game-high scoring with 11 points. Along with Daniels and Yearby, Carson and Botts also tallied 11.
Freshman forward Terry Bembry came off the bench to add seven points.
IU-East guard Cory Sitton led the 'Wolves with eight points.
IPFW shot 49.2% from the floor while holding IU-East to just 32.6%.
As Fife noted, IPFW now travels to Charleston, Illinois for a quick rematch with Eastern Illinois on Saturday. The Mastodons upended the Panthers 81-77 in overtime last Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum.
Following the EIU rematch, IPFW hosts Ball State on Monday, Dec. 1 at the Memorial Coliseum.
~Dons~
