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Thursday, February 25
Macomb, Ill.
9 p.m.
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Western Illinois
No. 14 IPFW Plays At Western Illinois Thursday Night
2/24/2016 3:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MACOMB, Ill. -- IPFW, ranked No. 14 in this week's Mid-Major Top 25, will play at Western Illinois University in a Summit League men's basketball game Thursday night, February 25, at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois beginning at 9 p.m. The Mastodons (22-7, 11-3 Summit League) of second-year head coach Jon Coffman are led in scoring by redshirt-senior Max Landis/Indianapolis (19.1), redshirt-freshman John Konchar/Chicago, Ill. (12.7) along with seniors Joe Reed/Greenwood (10.3) and Michael Calder (10.0). The Leathernecks are coached by head coach Billy Wright, who is in his second season, and are led in scoring by junior Garret Covington (17.6) and senior J.C. Fuller (12.7).
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV: ESPN3
Radio: ESPN 1380 AM / 100.9 FM
Play-by-Play: John Nolan
Video: espn.go.com
Stats: goleathernecks.com
Audio: espnfortwayne.com (Listen Live)
Quick Hits
• IPFW is playing fellow Summit League member Western Illinois for the 22nd time overall in a series that began on January 11, 1988 (L 74-63). The Mastodons lead the series, 14-7, including an 88-67 win in Fort Wayne last month (1/31), led by Landis with 19 points and Reed with 17 points. The two schools split last season with the Leathernecks winning in Macomb, Ill. (73-67, 1/2/15), and IPFW winning in Fort Wayne (84-64, 2/28/15). IPFW has won four of the last five games in the series.
• IPFW is 79-71 in Summit League regular season games since joining the league in 2007-08, including 20-10 under head Coach Coffman.
• IPFW has attained its finest start to a season as a Division I program (2001-02) with its 22-7 record. The 2013-14 team had started 20-9, before finishing 25-11 ... the program's best overall DI season to date.
• IPFW moved up to No. 14 in this week's The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, its highest ranking ever, and is among the Top 25 for a record eighth-straight week. The Mastodons previous high ranking was at No. 15 earlier this month (2/1).
Scouting The Leathernecks
Western Illinois is 9-16 overall, 2-12 in The Summit League, following a league home loss to South Dakota State (87-67) Feb. 20. The Leathernecks are coached by head coach Billy Wright, who is in his second season at WIU. Western Illinois has two scoring in double-figures, including junior Garret Covington (17.6) and senior J.C. Fuller (12.7). The Leathernecks have averaged 69.6 points, while allowing 70.0 points, and are 6-5 in home games this season, 1-5 in the league. WIU is currently ninth in the Summit League standings.
Scouting The Mastodons
IPFW is 22-7 overall, 11-3 in The Summit League, following a league home win past Omaha (94-90) Feb. 20. The Mastodons are coached by Jon Coffman, who is in his second season as head coach, fifth year at the school and 19th overall. IPFW has four scoring in double-figures, including Landis (19.1), Konchar (12.7), along with Reed (10.3) and Calder (10.0). The Mastodons have averaged 80.3 points, while allowing 76.3 points, and are 9-5 in road games this season, 4-2 in the league. IPFW is currently first in the Summit League standings.
Last Time Out
DeAngelo Stewart scored a career-high 23 points to lead IPFW to a 94-90 Summit League home win past Omaha. The Mastodons scored the first seven points of the contest in front of a raucous, sell-out capacity crowd of 1,832. Appropriately enough, the three seniors who were recognized during a special pregame ceremony scored the first seven … Reed opened with a three-point field goal, followed by two free throws from Calder and a jumper from Landis. Omaha closed to within 7-5 at 15:42, but the IPFW used a 9-0 run to lead 16-5 at 13:25, and extended the run to 16-4 for a 23-9 advantage at 11:34. Konchar started the outburst with a slam dunk and finished it with a jumper, while Stewart came in off the bench and made two three-pointers during the run. It was 54-44 at the intermission behind 13 first-half points by Stewart, while Konchar also had 13 at the break and Landis had 11. The Mastodons continued their momentum with a 10-4 run to start the second half for its largest lead of the night at 64-48 with 17:02 on the clock – getting two more three-pointers from Stewart and another dunk by Konchar. The Mavericks battled back and managed to tie it for the first time at 88-88 with 1:32 remaining, however, IPFW secured its win in the regular season home finale with an old-fashioned three-point play by Calder at 1:07, 2-2 free throws from Landis at :14.7 and 1-2 free throws by Reed at :02.5. Stewart led IPFW with his career-high 23 points, tying his career-high with five three-pointers (5-8), and equaled his career-high with nine rebounds, as well. Landis finished with 20 points for his 10th 20-point game this season, making 9-9 free throws, and adding a game-high seven assists. Calder (3-7 3FGs) and Konchar each added 19 points, with Calder adding four assists and Konchar grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds for his second-straight and 11th collegiate double-double, adding three assists, as well. Reed finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while playing in his school-record 127th career game. IPFW shot 46% (30-65) from the field, including 37% (10-27) on three-pointers and a season-best 92% (24-26) at the free throw line.
Who's Hot
IPFW … with 22 wins in 29 games for its finest start to a season since moving up to Division I (2001-02). Landis ... averaging 24.0 points and 4.6 assists in his last 11 games, including one 40-point game and three 30-point games among seven 20-point games, while shooting 47% (81-171) from the field, 49% (48-99, 4.4) on three-pointers and 83% (54-65) at the line. Konchar ... averaging a double-double of 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds (eight double-doubles) in his last 11 games, while shooting 62% (60-97) from the field, 55% (12-22) on three-pointers and 75% (33-44) at the line. He grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds vs. North Dakota State (1/21), the second-highest among guards in Division I and third-most by a freshman this season. Calder ... averaging 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in his last 11 games, while shooting 41% (53-131) from the field, 45% (28-62) on three-pointers and 81% (30-37) at the line. He has equaled his career-high of 20 points three times, including vs. IUPUI (1/23), Denver (2/13) and South Dakota State (2/18). Stewart ... averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in his last nine games, while shooting 52% (41-79) from the field, 46% (24-52) on three-pointers and 73% (11-15) at the line.
NCAA RPI Ratings
IPFW has an NCAA RPI of 65 as of Feb. 24, ranking 2nd among the Summit League's top five teams behind South Dakota State (48), and followed by Omaha (135), North Dakota State (137) and Oral Roberts (140).
Raining 3's
IPFW has made 301 three-point field goals, ranking 6th in Division I, and the Mastodons also rank 6th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.418, 301-720) as well as 7th in three-pointers per game (10.4). Landis ranks 2nd in Division I made three-pointers (103) and three-pointers per game (3.69), and is 4th in Division I three-point percentage (.477, 103-216). He has 11 games with at least four three-pointers.
What A Game By Landis
The school-record 44 points scored by Landis at South Dakota (2/4) ties the fifth-highest total in Division I this season, and is the sixth-most ever in a Summit League game. His 11 three-point field goals are the second-most in Division I this year, and ties the Summit League record. Landis has two other games this season with nine three-pointers (9-12 toward 28 points vs. Austin Peay, 12/12; 9-12 toward 37 points at Omaha, 1/16).
Elite First-Year Player
Konchar is ranked 1st among Division I freshmen in minutes played (1017), while 5th nationally in double-doubles (11) and 7th in rebounding (8.8). If he qualified for field goal percentage (minimum 5.0 made per game-Konchar is just below at 4.76), he would rank 3rd (.595, 138-232) among the nation's freshman class. Some names of those just ahead of him in the national rankings include Ben Simmons at LSU, Henry Ellenson at Marquette and Caleb Swanigan of Purdue.
Stepping It Up A Notch
IPFW is averaging 82.4 points per game through 14 Summit League contests (11-3), up from its 80.3 scoring average overall. Landis is averaging 22.8 points with 4.2 made three-point field goals in league games, up from his 19.1 points and 3.7 three-pointers overall. Konchar is averaging a double-double of 14.6 points and 10.0 rebounds in league games, including nine double-doubles (one with assists), up from his 12.7 points and 8.8 rebounds overall.
Among The Top 25
IPFW moved up to No. 14 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 with 342 votes, its highest ranking ever. The Mastodons are ranked among the Top 25 for a record eighth consecutive week. It's previous high national ranking was No. 15 on Feb. 1.
Ironmen
IPFW has two starters who have ranked among the Division I leaders in minutes played all season, including Landis (17th, 1040) and Konchar (20th, 1017). Landis has played 40 or more minutes eight times this season, while Konchar has played 40 or more three times.
Road Warriors
IPFW has played 16 games away from Fort Wayne, including 14 true road games (9-5) and two neutral-site contests (1-1). The Mastodons' brutal early-season schedule (10 of the first 14 away) included trips to Valparaiso; Clarksville, Tennessee; Oxford, Ohio; Greensboro, North Carolina; San Luis Obispo, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Bloomington and Kalamazoo, Michigan -- all before Christmas. IPFW has since traveled to Denver, Colorado; Brookings, South Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Vermillion, South Dakota and Fargo, North Dakota for league games.
Frequent Flyers/Travelers
IPFW has flown 11,097 miles this season for games in North Carolina (1,402), California and Utah (3,599), Denver (2,086), South Dakota and Nebraska (1,192), Oklahoma (1,486), as well as South Dakota (again) and North Dakota (1,332). In addition, the Mastodons have traveled 3,170 miles this season on Charter Buses for games in Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan. Over 1,300 miles (1,302) of the bus rides have occurred during the trips to California (700) and South Dakota/Nebraska (238) along with South Dakota/North Dakota (364). This trip to Western Illinois and IUPUI will add 758 miles of bus riding to the season travel, totaling 3,928 miles on Charter Buses during the 2015-16 regular season.
The Team Three-Point Stat
IPFW has made at least one three-point field goal in 387 consecutive games, dating back to a road game at Miami (Ohio) (12/21/03, 0-9). The Mastodons' 301 three-pointers this season include 17 games with at least 10 three-pointers, including a school-record 20 made three-pointers at South Dakota (2/4, 20-36, 56%). The season-low is six, three times, most recent vs. Navy (11/29, 6-26) in Greensboro, North Carolina. Through Feb. 24, UNLV has the current Division I record at 970 straight games, dating back to Nov. 26, 1986.
Among Indiana / Mid-Majors
IPFW has posted 63 wins over the past three seasons since 2013-14, ranking 3rd among Indiana's 10 Division I programs, behind Valparaiso (68) and Notre Dame (65). The Mastodons are 2nd among those schools considered to be mid-major programs in Indiana (Valparaiso). The two-plus campaigns are also the most successful seasons in the program's Division I history, including consecutive post-season appearances in the 2014 and 2015 CollegeInsider.com Tournaments -- the first and only consecutive post-season appearances, as well.
Up Next
IPFW will remain on the road for its final regular season game at IUPUI Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
Complete game notes available via linked pdf.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV: ESPN3
Radio: ESPN 1380 AM / 100.9 FM
Play-by-Play: John Nolan
Video: espn.go.com
Stats: goleathernecks.com
Audio: espnfortwayne.com (Listen Live)
Quick Hits
• IPFW is playing fellow Summit League member Western Illinois for the 22nd time overall in a series that began on January 11, 1988 (L 74-63). The Mastodons lead the series, 14-7, including an 88-67 win in Fort Wayne last month (1/31), led by Landis with 19 points and Reed with 17 points. The two schools split last season with the Leathernecks winning in Macomb, Ill. (73-67, 1/2/15), and IPFW winning in Fort Wayne (84-64, 2/28/15). IPFW has won four of the last five games in the series.
• IPFW is 79-71 in Summit League regular season games since joining the league in 2007-08, including 20-10 under head Coach Coffman.
• IPFW has attained its finest start to a season as a Division I program (2001-02) with its 22-7 record. The 2013-14 team had started 20-9, before finishing 25-11 ... the program's best overall DI season to date.
• IPFW moved up to No. 14 in this week's The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, its highest ranking ever, and is among the Top 25 for a record eighth-straight week. The Mastodons previous high ranking was at No. 15 earlier this month (2/1).
Scouting The Leathernecks
Western Illinois is 9-16 overall, 2-12 in The Summit League, following a league home loss to South Dakota State (87-67) Feb. 20. The Leathernecks are coached by head coach Billy Wright, who is in his second season at WIU. Western Illinois has two scoring in double-figures, including junior Garret Covington (17.6) and senior J.C. Fuller (12.7). The Leathernecks have averaged 69.6 points, while allowing 70.0 points, and are 6-5 in home games this season, 1-5 in the league. WIU is currently ninth in the Summit League standings.
Scouting The Mastodons
IPFW is 22-7 overall, 11-3 in The Summit League, following a league home win past Omaha (94-90) Feb. 20. The Mastodons are coached by Jon Coffman, who is in his second season as head coach, fifth year at the school and 19th overall. IPFW has four scoring in double-figures, including Landis (19.1), Konchar (12.7), along with Reed (10.3) and Calder (10.0). The Mastodons have averaged 80.3 points, while allowing 76.3 points, and are 9-5 in road games this season, 4-2 in the league. IPFW is currently first in the Summit League standings.
Last Time Out
DeAngelo Stewart scored a career-high 23 points to lead IPFW to a 94-90 Summit League home win past Omaha. The Mastodons scored the first seven points of the contest in front of a raucous, sell-out capacity crowd of 1,832. Appropriately enough, the three seniors who were recognized during a special pregame ceremony scored the first seven … Reed opened with a three-point field goal, followed by two free throws from Calder and a jumper from Landis. Omaha closed to within 7-5 at 15:42, but the IPFW used a 9-0 run to lead 16-5 at 13:25, and extended the run to 16-4 for a 23-9 advantage at 11:34. Konchar started the outburst with a slam dunk and finished it with a jumper, while Stewart came in off the bench and made two three-pointers during the run. It was 54-44 at the intermission behind 13 first-half points by Stewart, while Konchar also had 13 at the break and Landis had 11. The Mastodons continued their momentum with a 10-4 run to start the second half for its largest lead of the night at 64-48 with 17:02 on the clock – getting two more three-pointers from Stewart and another dunk by Konchar. The Mavericks battled back and managed to tie it for the first time at 88-88 with 1:32 remaining, however, IPFW secured its win in the regular season home finale with an old-fashioned three-point play by Calder at 1:07, 2-2 free throws from Landis at :14.7 and 1-2 free throws by Reed at :02.5. Stewart led IPFW with his career-high 23 points, tying his career-high with five three-pointers (5-8), and equaled his career-high with nine rebounds, as well. Landis finished with 20 points for his 10th 20-point game this season, making 9-9 free throws, and adding a game-high seven assists. Calder (3-7 3FGs) and Konchar each added 19 points, with Calder adding four assists and Konchar grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds for his second-straight and 11th collegiate double-double, adding three assists, as well. Reed finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while playing in his school-record 127th career game. IPFW shot 46% (30-65) from the field, including 37% (10-27) on three-pointers and a season-best 92% (24-26) at the free throw line.
Who's Hot
IPFW … with 22 wins in 29 games for its finest start to a season since moving up to Division I (2001-02). Landis ... averaging 24.0 points and 4.6 assists in his last 11 games, including one 40-point game and three 30-point games among seven 20-point games, while shooting 47% (81-171) from the field, 49% (48-99, 4.4) on three-pointers and 83% (54-65) at the line. Konchar ... averaging a double-double of 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds (eight double-doubles) in his last 11 games, while shooting 62% (60-97) from the field, 55% (12-22) on three-pointers and 75% (33-44) at the line. He grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds vs. North Dakota State (1/21), the second-highest among guards in Division I and third-most by a freshman this season. Calder ... averaging 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in his last 11 games, while shooting 41% (53-131) from the field, 45% (28-62) on three-pointers and 81% (30-37) at the line. He has equaled his career-high of 20 points three times, including vs. IUPUI (1/23), Denver (2/13) and South Dakota State (2/18). Stewart ... averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in his last nine games, while shooting 52% (41-79) from the field, 46% (24-52) on three-pointers and 73% (11-15) at the line.
NCAA RPI Ratings
IPFW has an NCAA RPI of 65 as of Feb. 24, ranking 2nd among the Summit League's top five teams behind South Dakota State (48), and followed by Omaha (135), North Dakota State (137) and Oral Roberts (140).
Raining 3's
IPFW has made 301 three-point field goals, ranking 6th in Division I, and the Mastodons also rank 6th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.418, 301-720) as well as 7th in three-pointers per game (10.4). Landis ranks 2nd in Division I made three-pointers (103) and three-pointers per game (3.69), and is 4th in Division I three-point percentage (.477, 103-216). He has 11 games with at least four three-pointers.
What A Game By Landis
The school-record 44 points scored by Landis at South Dakota (2/4) ties the fifth-highest total in Division I this season, and is the sixth-most ever in a Summit League game. His 11 three-point field goals are the second-most in Division I this year, and ties the Summit League record. Landis has two other games this season with nine three-pointers (9-12 toward 28 points vs. Austin Peay, 12/12; 9-12 toward 37 points at Omaha, 1/16).
Elite First-Year Player
Konchar is ranked 1st among Division I freshmen in minutes played (1017), while 5th nationally in double-doubles (11) and 7th in rebounding (8.8). If he qualified for field goal percentage (minimum 5.0 made per game-Konchar is just below at 4.76), he would rank 3rd (.595, 138-232) among the nation's freshman class. Some names of those just ahead of him in the national rankings include Ben Simmons at LSU, Henry Ellenson at Marquette and Caleb Swanigan of Purdue.
Stepping It Up A Notch
IPFW is averaging 82.4 points per game through 14 Summit League contests (11-3), up from its 80.3 scoring average overall. Landis is averaging 22.8 points with 4.2 made three-point field goals in league games, up from his 19.1 points and 3.7 three-pointers overall. Konchar is averaging a double-double of 14.6 points and 10.0 rebounds in league games, including nine double-doubles (one with assists), up from his 12.7 points and 8.8 rebounds overall.
Among The Top 25
IPFW moved up to No. 14 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 with 342 votes, its highest ranking ever. The Mastodons are ranked among the Top 25 for a record eighth consecutive week. It's previous high national ranking was No. 15 on Feb. 1.
Ironmen
IPFW has two starters who have ranked among the Division I leaders in minutes played all season, including Landis (17th, 1040) and Konchar (20th, 1017). Landis has played 40 or more minutes eight times this season, while Konchar has played 40 or more three times.
Road Warriors
IPFW has played 16 games away from Fort Wayne, including 14 true road games (9-5) and two neutral-site contests (1-1). The Mastodons' brutal early-season schedule (10 of the first 14 away) included trips to Valparaiso; Clarksville, Tennessee; Oxford, Ohio; Greensboro, North Carolina; San Luis Obispo, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Bloomington and Kalamazoo, Michigan -- all before Christmas. IPFW has since traveled to Denver, Colorado; Brookings, South Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Vermillion, South Dakota and Fargo, North Dakota for league games.
Frequent Flyers/Travelers
IPFW has flown 11,097 miles this season for games in North Carolina (1,402), California and Utah (3,599), Denver (2,086), South Dakota and Nebraska (1,192), Oklahoma (1,486), as well as South Dakota (again) and North Dakota (1,332). In addition, the Mastodons have traveled 3,170 miles this season on Charter Buses for games in Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan. Over 1,300 miles (1,302) of the bus rides have occurred during the trips to California (700) and South Dakota/Nebraska (238) along with South Dakota/North Dakota (364). This trip to Western Illinois and IUPUI will add 758 miles of bus riding to the season travel, totaling 3,928 miles on Charter Buses during the 2015-16 regular season.
The Team Three-Point Stat
IPFW has made at least one three-point field goal in 387 consecutive games, dating back to a road game at Miami (Ohio) (12/21/03, 0-9). The Mastodons' 301 three-pointers this season include 17 games with at least 10 three-pointers, including a school-record 20 made three-pointers at South Dakota (2/4, 20-36, 56%). The season-low is six, three times, most recent vs. Navy (11/29, 6-26) in Greensboro, North Carolina. Through Feb. 24, UNLV has the current Division I record at 970 straight games, dating back to Nov. 26, 1986.
Among Indiana / Mid-Majors
IPFW has posted 63 wins over the past three seasons since 2013-14, ranking 3rd among Indiana's 10 Division I programs, behind Valparaiso (68) and Notre Dame (65). The Mastodons are 2nd among those schools considered to be mid-major programs in Indiana (Valparaiso). The two-plus campaigns are also the most successful seasons in the program's Division I history, including consecutive post-season appearances in the 2014 and 2015 CollegeInsider.com Tournaments -- the first and only consecutive post-season appearances, as well.
Up Next
IPFW will remain on the road for its final regular season game at IUPUI Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
Complete game notes available via linked pdf.
Players Mentioned
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