Hot-Shooting Leathernecks Spoil Gaines' Career-High Scoring Output

Saturday, January 7

Memorial Coliseum

2:30 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

9-7, 3-4Summit

Western Illinois

9-5, 4-2Summit

Western Illinois

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Hot-Shooting Leathernecks Spoil Gaines' Career-High Scoring Output

1/7/2012 6:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Frank Gaines scored a career-high 30 points, including making 4-of-7 shots from long range, but his big night was overshadowed by a Western Illinois squad that made 9-of-12 three-point shots, before fending off the Mastodons late, in a 75-65 Leatherneck win on Saturday afternoon.

The loss snaps IPFW's two-game win streak, while the Leathernecks have won three and a row, and five of the last six. The 'Dons fall to 9-7 overall and 3-4 in the Summit League, while WIU improves to 9-5 and 4-2 in league play.

Gaines earned his 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, his four three-point baskets, and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Mario Hines scored nine, while Jonny Marlin and Jason Smeathers each scored seven.

Justin Jordan dished out four assists, while Gaines grabbed a team-best six rebounds, as the Leathernecks out-rebounded the 'Dons 29-to-27.

The teams battled back-and-forth for the first ten minutes of the game, with the lead changing hands eight times during the span. With WIU leading 23-22 with 8:39 to play, the Leathernecks ran off six straight points to push to a seven-point advantage, one that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.

The 'Dons cut the gap to four with 1:48 to play in the opening half, before Jack Houpt responded with his fifth three-pointer of the first half, pushing the lead back to seven, sending the visitors into the locker room with a seven-point, 41-34 lead through the first 20 minutes of play.

A Jonny Marlin three-point basket two and a half minutes into the second half cut the gap to five, before another 6-0 run - this one capped by a Ceola Clark three-pointer - pushed the advantage to double digits for the first time in the game.

The Leatherneck lead grew to as many as 15 with 2:46 to play; however, the 'Dons would not back down, climbing to within nine with 33 seconds to play, but the early deficit was too much to overcome in the 10-point WIU victory.

Western Illinois made 24 of its 49 shots (51.0 percent) for the game, including the blistering 75 percent from long range. IPFW hit 22-of-47 shots from the field (46.8 percent), and made 8-of-18 from long range (44.4 percent).

Houpt ended with 21 points, converting on seven of his nine three-point attempts, while Clark scored 18 with a game-high five assists.

The Mastodons get a week break after playing three games in a five day span, with the next contest coming on Saturday, January 14, when the squad plays host to the Grizzlies of Oakland University in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Memorial Coliseum.

~ Feel the Rumble ~