IPFW Explodes for 63 in Second Half to Drop SIUE, 107-79

Tuesday, January 11

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

107

SIU Edwardsville

Frank Gaines lays in two of his career-high 22 points vs. SIUE

IPFW Explodes for 63 in Second Half to Drop SIUE, 107-79

1/11/2011 10:15:55 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW scored 63 second-half points to blow open a close game on Tuesday night, as the Mastodons flew past the SIU Edwardsville Cougars, 107-79 at the Memorial Coliseum.

The 107-point score was the most racked up by an IPFW team since the 'Dons blasted Anderson University, 107-59 on January 4, 2007.

The Cougars (5-14) trailed by just six at half, 44-38, but the Mastodons went on a 27-8 run to open the second half in cruising to their 11th win of the season.

A number of Mastodons registered career-highs in the victory. Sophomore guard Frank Gaines finished the night with a team-high 22 points. Senior forward Oleg Kovalov added a career-high 16 points and freshman power forward Michael Kibiloski added a career-high 10.

Those three 'Dons were joined in double-digits by senior guard Ben Botts with 16 and junior guard Jeremy Mixon with 13.

The Mastodons shot a blistering 62.9% in the second half alone and finished the game hitting 57.4% of their shots from the floor. That was just a shade off of their best shooting night of the season (57.7% vs. UT-Martin).

IPFW outrebounded SIUE 35-18. That was the lowest number of rebounds allowed by the Mastodons this season.

SIUE was led in scoring by junior guard Corey Wickware with 15. Junior guard Cornelius Chatt added 12.

With the win, IPFW improves to 11-5 and now awaits a Summit League showdown with league-leading Oakland (6-0) on Saturday night at the Coliseum. The 'Dons enter that match-up in second place in the league standings at 5-1. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

~Dons~