Purdue Fort Wayne
Western Illinois
Mastodons Manhandle Leathernecks
2/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2008
Fort Wayne, IN - Junior forward David Carson scored a career-high 22 points and senior guard Chris Perkins tossed in a season-high 20 as IPFW had no trouble in beating Western Illinois, 85-62 on Thursday night at the Memorial Coliseum.
The win is IPFW's fifth in their last six ball games and improves the Mastodons' record to 12-14 overall and 9-6 in The Summit League.
Early on, it looked like IPFW might be in a bit of trouble. The 'Dons leading scorer, senior forward Jaraun Burrows, was whistled with two early fouls and went to the bench with just three minutes gone.
No problem. IPFW turned to Carson and Perkins to get things going.
Perkins scored three baskets in just over a minute to give IPFW a 22-15 advantage.
Carson got a couple of hoops inside, and junior guard Jakari Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers as part of an 18-7 run giving the 'Dons a 32-20 cushion.
The Mastodons went into the half leading, 42-28.
In the second half, IPFW blew the game open with a 36-16 run.
Freshman forward Nick Luttrell, who saw plenty of action with the Burrows' foul trouble, gave IPFW a 67-41 lead with a pair of buckets in the paint.
The 'Dons largest lead of the game came on a three-point play by Jakari Johnson at the 10:22 mark.
At that point, IPFW called off the dogs and cruised to the 23 point win.
Joining Carson and Perkins in double figures were Johnson with 15 and freshman guard Ben Botts with 13.
The 'Dons did their damage without a single basket from Burrows, who did lead the team in rebounding with seven in only nine minutes of action.
IPFW shot 57.1% from the floor, their second highest average of the season (57.8% vs. Manchester-11/21). They held Western Illinois to just 33.3% from the floor.
"It's really surprising me, the level our guys are beginning to play at," IPFW Head Coach Dane Fife said.
"I knew they were capable of it, but they are still hungry and they know what's at stake here in the next three games. I'm excited for the challenge, and I know they are too."
Freshman guard James Washington led WIU (12-15, 7-9) with 19 points. Senior guard David Jackson added 17, while junior guard David DuBois chipped in 12.
With the win, IPFW keeps pace with Oakland in The Summit League. The Golden Grizzlies routed second place IUPUI on Thursday night at the O'Rena, 84-69. Both teams are 9-6 in conference play.
IPFW will host IUPUI on Saturday afternoon in the Mastodons' final home game of 2007-08. Tipoff on "Senior Day" is set for 4:00 p.m.
The IPFW women will open the day's action at 1:00 p.m. hosting Western Illinois at the Coliseum.
~Dons~
