Men's Basketball Set For Season Opener

PRE-GAME NOTES

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The IPFW Mastodons will play host to Nebraska Omaha in the 2011-12 season opener, which is also the first NCAA Division I contest for the Mavericks, who are making the leap from Division II.

Opponent: Nebraska Omaha(19-9 last season)
When: Saturday, November 12, 1 p.m.
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind.; Memorial Coliseum (5,800)
Radio: ESPN 1380 AM (Kent Hormann, play-by-play; Jeff Parrish, analyst)
Live Stats: IPFW Sidearm Live Stats
Streaming Video: IPFW Mastodons All-Access

QUICK HITTERS
•   Tony Jasick is coaching in his first game since taking the helm of the program on April 20.
•   IPFW is 6-4 all-time in the first game coached by a new coach, including Joe Pechota's victory during his first game when he took over mid-season
•   IPFW junior forward Frank Gaines has been named to the Summit League Preseason First Team.
•    This is the first all-time meeting between IPFW and Nebraska Omaha
•    Nebraska Omaha is scheduled to join the Summit League for the 2012-13 academic year, and is in its first year of NCAA Division I competition this season

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Nebraska Omaha begins its first season as a member of NCAA Division I with its first contest against the IPFW Mastodons. Last season UNO went 19-9 on the season, falling to Missouri Southern in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals.

The Mavericks had three players average in double-figure scoring last season, and return Mitch Albers, who finished second on the team averaging 17.3 points per game. Alex Welhouse returns after averaging 8.6 points, as John Karhoff pulled down five rebounds while socoring 5.4 points per game.

LAST TIME OUT
Frank Gaines' 18 points led four players in double-figures, as the IPFW Mastodons opened the 2011-12 season in grand fashion with an 83-54 exhibition win over the Trine Thunder.

Gaines made half of his 12 shots from the field while converting on all four free throws, while Mario Hines scored 15, Joe Edwards 11, and Jason Smeathers 10. Trey McCorkle and Michael Kibiloski each narrowly missed double-figure points with nine and seven, respectively.

As a team the Mastodons out-rebounded Trine 53-25 for the game, as McCorkle grabbed a game-high eight, with Smeathers and Hines each pulling down seven, as 12 of the 13 players in the game had at least one rebound. Jonny Marlin dished out a game-high six assists, while McCorkle had two blocks.

NEXT TIME OUT
The Mastodons return to the court in a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, where the squad will face off against the nationally ranked Musketeers of Xavier University at 7 p.m. at the Cintas Center on November 15.

~Dons~

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics

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