IPFW Plays On The Road At Western Michigan Tuesday Night

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- IPFW will play on the road at Western Michigan University of the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday night, December 22, at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan beginning at 7 p.m. The Mastodons (9-4) of second-year head coach Jon Coffman will be playing the host Broncos (5-5) for just the second time ever, and for the first time since 2003-04. Through 13 games, IPFW has been led in scoring by junior Mo Evans/Indianapolis (16.8), redshirt-senior Max Landis/Indianapolis (14.6), senior Joe Reed/Greenwood (11.2) and redshirt-freshman John Konchar/Chicago, Ill. (10.1). Western Michigan is coached by Steve Hawkins, who is in his 13th season, and the Broncos have been led by junior Tucker Haymond (16.6) and sophomore Thomas Wilder (15.1).

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 / 7 p.m.
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich. / University Arena
Series History: WMU leads 1-0
TV: ESPN3
Radio: ESPN 1380 AM-100.9 FM / Play-by-Play: Brett Rump
Video: ESPN3.com
Stats: wmubroncos.com
Audio: thefanindiana.com (ESPN 1380 Fort Wayne)

IPFW Quicks
• IPFW is playing Western Michigan for just the second time ever. The Broncos won the only other meeting between the two schools in Kalamazoo during 2003-04 (77-48, 1/14/04).
• IPFW is 8-19 overall against members of the Mid-American Conference since first playing a Division I schedule in 2001-02. The Mastodons, however, are 7-2 against MAC schools over the past five-plus seasons since 2010-11, including four-straight wins (Miami-twice, Akron, Bowling Green).
• IPFW has equaled its best start to a season as a Division I program (2001-02). The Mastodons of 2010-11 and 2013-14 each began with 9-4 records, as well, toward DI best starts of 10-4. The all-time best start: 11-0, 1988-89.
• IPFW has received a balanced scoring effort with four players averaging in double figures, including Mo Evans (16.8), Max Landis (14.6), Joe Reed (11.2) and John Konchar (10.1). Konchar leads the team in rebounding (7.8) and steals (1.7), while Evans leads in assists (4.3) and Landis leads in three-point field goals (38).
• IPFW has had four different players score at least 20 points in a game this season, including Mo Evans (five times, four-straight), Max Landis, Joe Reed (team season-best 30 points) and John Konchar.

Scouting The Broncos
Western Michigan is 5-5 after a home win past NAIA Marygrove (101-59) on December 12. Members of the Mid-American Conference, the Broncos are coached by head coach Steve Hawkins, who is in his 13th season at WMU. Western Michigan has two scoring in double-figures, including junior Tucker Haymond (16.6) and sophomore Thomas Wilder (15.1). The Broncos have averaged 74.7 points, while allowing 69.7 points.

Scouting The Mastodons
IPFW is 9-4 following a home win past Stetson (95-89) on Dec. 19. Members of the Summit League, IPFW is coached by Jon Coffman, who is in his second season as head coach, fifth year at the school and 19th overall. The Mastodons also have four scoring in double-figures, including junior Mo Evans (16.8), redshirt-senior Max Landis (14.6), Joe Reed (11.2) and redshirt-freshman John Konchar (10.1). IPFW has averaged 73.8 points, while allowing 72.3 points.

Last Time Out
Joe Reed scored a game and career-high 30 points to lead IPFW in a 95-89 home win past Stetson at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. The Mastodons took an early 5-0 advantage at 17:14 after a layup from Reed and a three-point field goal by Mo Evans. IPFW led 14-7 at 12:59 following another layup from Reed, and it was a 24-18 lead after a layup by DeAngelo Stewart with 7:15 on the first-half clock. Stetson, however, closed the period with a 22-10 run to lead 40-34 at the intermission. The Hatters were 7-7 from three-point territory over the final 8:59 of the half. Reed had 10 points at the break for IPFW. Stetson made its first three-point attempt of the second half, its eighth consecutive make from beyond the arc, to lead 43-34 at 19:44. The Mastodons, though, began gaining some momentum and used a 25-9 run to take a 59-52 advantage with 13:35 remaining – getting nine points from Evans and eight from Reed – before a three-point play inside by John Konchar closed the run. The Hatters once-again used the three-point shot to make another run, this time at 22-8 to lead 74-67 at 8:13, making 4-4 triples. The Mastodons, however, weathered the three-point barrage (14-18 over final 28:59) and closed the contest with a 28-15 run over the final 7:51 for the hard-fought and well-earned victory. Michael Calder tallied 11 of his career-high 14 points over the final 7:27, including two crucial three-pointers.

Reed led IPFW with his game and career-best 30 points, making 13-16 from the field and 4-5 at the free throw line, adding six rebounds. Evans added 22 points for this fourth-straight 20-point game and fifth this season, adding six rebounds and a game-high seven assists for the Mastodons, followed by Calder with his career-high 14 points, off the bench. Max Landis contributed 13 points and five assists, while Konchar finished with seven points, a game-high eight rebounds, four assists and a game-high three steals. IPFW shot 59% (38-64) from the field, including 74% (23-31) after halftime toward the 61 second-half points, 41% (7-17) on three-pointers and 86% (12-14) at the line. The Mastodons outscored Stetson 63-20 in the paint.

NCAA RPI Ratings
IPFW has an NCAA RPI of 101 (of 351) as of Dec. 21, ranking fourth among Summit League members behind South Dakota State (41), Oral Roberts (50) and South Dakota (94). Western Michigan has an NCAA RPI of 267, ranking 11th among the 12 MAC schools, including the highest rated, Kent State (49).

Who's Hot
IPFW … with nine wins in its first 13 games to match its finest start to a season since moving up to Division I (2001-02). The strong start has been sparked by a nine-man rotation that includes the same starting five in each game: Mo Evans, Max Landis, John Konchar, Joe Reed and Brent Calhoun. Reed ... with a career-high 30 points against Stetson (12/19), including 13-16 field goals and 4-5 free throws, earning The Summit League Player of the Week honors. Evans ... averaging 20.2 points in his last six games, including a career-high 26 points at Utah (12/5), among four-straight 20-point games, along with a game-winning jumper with 2.3-seconds remaining at Cal Poly (12/3). Landis ... with a career-high 28 points against Austin Peay (12/12), including 9-12 three-point field goals to match the program's DI record.

Ironmen
IPFW has four starters ranked among the Division I leaders in minutes played, including Max Landis (6th, 457), John Konchar (11th, 436), Mo Evans (39th, 404) and Joe Reed (96th, 378).

Road Warriors
IPFW played nine of its first 11 games away from Fort Wayne, including seven true road games (4-3) and two neutral-site contests (1-1). The Mastodons' brutal early-season schedule included trips to Valparaiso; Clarksville, Tennessee; Oxford, Ohio; Greensboro, North Carolina; San Luis Obispo, California; Salt Lake City, Utah and Bloomington. Of the two "home" games (2-0) played, one was at Memorial Coliseum, where IPFW is scheduled to play five games this season. The Mastodons are scheduled to play eight games on campus at the Gates Sports Center.

Up Next
IPFW will break for the Christmas holiday before hosting Oral Roberts University at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne for the Summit League opener on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

IPFW Plays On The Road At Western Michigan Tuesday Night

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Players Mentioned

Michael Calder

Brent Calhoun

Mo Evans

John Konchar

Max Landis

Joe Reed

DeAngelo Stewart

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics