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Purdue Fort Wayne
Valparaiso
Plackemeier Caps Off Frantic Comeback as IPFW Downs Valparaiso, 75-72
12/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW junior guard Zach Plackemeier's fade-away jumper with :26 left capped off a 19-5 run as the Mastodons stormed back to beat Valparaiso, 75-72 on Tuesday night at the Memorial Coliseum.
After taking a 32-30 lead at halftime, IPFW fell behind by 11 as Valpo sophomore guard Brandon Wood drilled a 3-pointer at the 6:11 mark of the second half to give the Crusaders' their biggest lead of the game, 67-56.
But as the Mastodons called timeout after the basket, Wood taunted the IPFW bench and was assessed a technical.
IPFW junior guard Ben Botts sank the freebies and Plackemeier added a jumper to begin the 'Dons comeback.
Valpo junior forward Cory Johnson tipped in a miss by Wood to give the Crusaders an eight point lead with just over four minutes remaining.
Plackemeier turned the corner and slashed to the hoop for a layin. Senior forward Deilvez Yearby put back his own miss inside and added a pair of free throws to draw IPFW to within three at 72-69 with 1:29 left.
After a Valpo turnover, Yearby got another bucket inside to cut the Valpo lead to 72-71. On the next trip up the floor, the Crusaders threw the ball away again for the third consecutive time and Plackemeier made them pay.
He hit his 15 foot fade-away in the lane and IPFW took a 73-72 lead. All that was left was to get a stop.
Valpo walked the ball up the floor trying to work a screen for Wood. He shook his defender, but Yearby jumped out to contest the jump shot which was off the mark. Valpo got the offensive rebound, but turned it over one final time.
Plackemeier sank the final two free throws of the game to give the Mastodons their second win in-a-row over the Crusaders.
"Well, I guess it's the season to give gifts," Valparaiso head coach Homer Drew said. "And we certainly gave Fort Wayne a gift and they earned it. We sure helped them with our decisions on passing and how we played the last five minutes. We just did not respond well, and I have to take blame with the players, all of us are at fault."
"Ugly, ugly game," is how IPFW head coach Dane Fife described the contest. "I felt like we were very, very sluggish. I just expected more in terms of our energy, but on the flip side we fought through it. It's a testament to our grit in that final couple minutes."
The Mastodons were led in scoring by Yearby, who posted his second straight double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. It was his third double-double of the season. He also had four blocks and two steals.
Plackemeier finished the game with 19 points, including three triples. Botts added 16 points and was 7-7 from the foul line.
Junior forward Antwone Snead was the fourth 'Don in double-digits with 10. He was a rebound shy of a double-double and had three assists.
Wood led the Crusaders (5-7) with 23 points. Johnson added 22.
With the win, IPFW improves to 4-6. The Mastodons return to action on December 28, hosting Purdue-North Central at 7:00 p.m.
~Dons~
