IPFW Hosts South Dakota In Summit League Action Wednesday Night

Wednesday, January 6

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

South Dakota

IPFW Hosts South Dakota In Summit League Action Wednesday Night

1/5/2016 4:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- IPFW will welcome the University of South Dakota in Summit League men's basketball action on Wednesday night, January 6, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne beginning at 7 p.m. The Mastodons (12-4, 1-0) of second-year head coach Jon Coffman have been led in scoring by junior Mo Evans/Indianapolis (17.3), redshirt-senior Max Landis/Indianapolis (15.7), along with senior Joe Reed/Greenwood (11.2) and redshirt-freshman John Konchar/Chicago, Ill. (11.2). The Coyotes (9-7, 1-1) are coached by Craig Smith, who is in his second season, as well, and USD has been led in scoring by seniors Tre Burnette (15.1) and Casey Kasperbauer (14.0), along with junior Shy McClelland (11.6).

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 / 7 p.m.
Location: Fort Wayne, Ind. / Memorial Coliseum
Series History: IPFW leads 5-4
TV: None
Radio: ESPN 1380 AM / 100.9 FM
Play-by-Play: Brett Rump; Analyst: John Nolan
Video: gomastodons.com
Stats: gomastodons.com
Audio: thefanindiana.com (ESPN 1380 Fort Wayne)

Quick Hits
• IPFW is playing fellow Summit League member South Dakota for the 10th time overall since 2011-12. The Mastodons lead the series, 5-4, though the Coyotes took two wins in three games last season, the most recent during a 2015 Summit League Tournament Quarterfinal, 82-73, in Sioux Falls, S.D. on March 8. The two teams split during the regular season a year ago, each winning on the others home floor (USD 64-62 in Fort Wayne, 1/10; IPFW 66-55 in Vermillion, 1/29).
• IPFW is enjoying its best start to a season as a Division I program (2001-02) with its 12-4 record. The Mastodons' all-time best start is 11-0, accomplished during 1988-89 as a Division II member.
• IPFW is ranked No. 25 in this week's The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, its first ranking in nearly two years (No. 25, 2/10/2014).
• IPFW has received a balanced scoring effort with four players averaging in double figures, including Mo Evans (17.3), Max Landis (15.7), Joe Reed (11.2) and John Konchar (11.2). Konchar leads the team in rebounding (7.8) and steals (1.7), while Evans leads in assists (5.1) and Landis leads in three-point field goals (49).
• IPFW has had four different players score at least 20 points in a game this season, including Mo Evans (six times), Max Landis (three times) Joe Reed (two times, including a team season-best 30 points) and John Konchar.

Scouting The Coyotes
South Dakota is 9-7 overall, 1-1 in The Summit League, following a road win at Oral Roberts (94-84) on January 3. USD is coached by Craig Smith, who is in his second season as head coach. The Coyotes have three scoring in double-figures, including seniors Tre Burnette (15.1) and Casey Kasperbauer (14.0), along with junior Shy McClelland (11.6). USD has averaged 78.6 points, while allowing 80.8 points, and is 4-4 in true road games this season.

Scouting The Mastodons
IPFW is 12-4 overall, 1-0 in The Summit League, following a non-conference home win past Purdue North Central (126-95) on Jan. 2, its fifth-straight victory. 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 have four scoring in double-figures, including junior Mo Evans (17.3) and redshirt-senior Max Landis (15.7), along with senior Joe Reed (11.2) and redshirt-freshman John Konchar (11.2). IPFW has averaged 79.1 points, while allowing 75.3 points, and is 6-0 at home this season (4-0 at MC, 2-0 at GSC).

Last Time Out
Mo Evans matched his career-high with 26 points to lead IPFW to a record-setting 126-95 non-conference victory past NAIA Division II Purdue University North Central at the Gates Sports Center. The host Mastodons (12-4) set new Division I single-game records for scoring (126), field goals (52), field goal percentage (72%) and assists (31). The 126 points is the second-highest all-time (138), while the field goals is also a new school-record (49). IPFW outscored its visitors 23-4 over the final 6:49 of the first half to lead 60-32 at the intermission. Joe Reed (17), John Konchar (13) and Evans (12) led the opening half scoring efforts. The Mastodons continued their momentum to start the second half and took their largest lead at 92-50 with 12:21 remaining. The 32-18 run by IPFW was sparked by Evans with 14 quick points, including a trio of three-pointers, as well as a conventional three-point play. Charles Ruise Jr. and Kason Harrell (4) combined for 10 late points, while fan favorite Trevor Osborn came off the bench and scored a last-minute basket, as well.

Evans led IPFW with his career-high-tying 26 points, making 8-12 field goals, 5-7 three-pointers and 5-5 free throws, also adding a game and career-high 11 assists for his second consecutive double-double. Reed finished with 19 points for the Mastodons on perfect shooting (9-9 FGs, 1-1 FTs), followed by Konchar with 17 points, also on perfect shooting (8-8 FGs, 1-1 3FGs). Ruise Jr. posted career-highs of 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, off the bench, while Harrell had career-highs of 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, also off the bench. Brent Calhoun matched his career-high with 12 points on perfect shooting (6-6 FGs), too, and Michael Calder added 11 points and tied his career-high with six assists. IPFW shot a program Division I-best 72% (52-72) from the field, including a season-high 67% (12-18) on three-pointers and 77% (10-13) at the free throw line. The Mastodons out-rebounded PNC, 37-18, and had a 74-22 advantage in points scored in the paint, along with a 41-24 advantage in bench scoring. In all, 10 of the 11 players who played in the game scored points for the hosts.

Who's Hot
IPFW … with five-straight wins and 12 wins overall in its first 16 games for its finest start to a season since moving up to Division I (2001-02). The strong start has been sparked by the same starting five in 15 of 16 games: Mo Evans, Max Landis, John Konchar, Joe Reed and Brent Calhoun. Landis ... averaging 21.2 points in his last four games, including a game-high 25 points (6-11 3FGs) and the game-winning three-pointer at Western Michigan (12/22), as well as a career-high 28 points (9-12 3FGs) against Austin Peay (12/12), tying the program's DI record for single-game three-pointers. Evans ... averaging 21.1 points in his last seven games, including a career-high 26 points at Utah (12/5) and vs. Purdue North Central (1/2). Konchar ... averaging 16.0 points in his last three games. Michael Calder ... averaging 11.0 points in his last four games, including a career-high 14 points against Stetson (12/19).

Cracking The Top 25
IPFW is ranked No. 25 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll with 61 votes. The Mastodons are ranked among the Top 25 for the first time in nearly two years (No. 25, 2/10/2014).

NCAA RPI Ratings
IPFW has an NCAA RPI of 98 (of 351) as of Jan. 5, ranking second among Summit League members behind South Dakota State (35), followed by Oral Roberts (107), North Dakota State (138) and South Dakota (154) among the top five in The Summit League.

Ironmen
IPFW has four starters ranked among the Division I leaders in minutes played, including Max Landis (t-18th, 540), John Konchar (t-23rd, 532), Mo Evans (t-77th, 493) and Joe Reed (t-170th, 465).

The Team Three-Point Stat
IPFW has made at least one three-point field goal in 374 consecutive games, dating back to a road game at Miami (Ohio) (12/21/03, 0-9). The Mastodons' 161 three-pointers this season include nine games with at least 10 three-pointers, including a season-high 14 at Cal Poly (12/3, 14-30). The season-low is six on three occasions, most recent vs. Navy (11/29, 6-26) in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Up Next
IPFW will play its first Summit League game on the road at the University of Denver on January 9 at 6 p.m. in Colorado.

Complete Game Notes (PDF)