IPFW Wins On The Road At Western Illinois 87-75

Thursday, February 25

Macomb, Ill.

9 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

23-7, 12-3SL

Western Illinois

9-17, 2-13SL

Team	1	2	F
IPFW	39	48	87
Western Illinois	34	41	75

Game Notes (PDF)Box Score (HTM)Box Score (PDF)

2/25/2016 11:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill. -- Redshirt-senior Max Landis/Indianapolis scored 24 point to lead IPFW to an 87-75 men's college basketball Summit League road win at Western Illinois University Thursday night at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois. Senior Michael Calder/Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and redshirt-freshman John Konchar/Chicago, Ill. each added 19 points, while junior DeAngelo Stewart/Detroit, Mich. had 16 points for the visiting Mastodons (23-7, 12-3 Summit League), who secured the top seed for the 2016 Summit League Basketball Championships March 5-8 and at least a share of the regular season title with the victory. Garrett Covington scored a game-high 26 points for the host Leathernecks (9-17, 2-13 Summit League). IPFW will remain on the road for its final regular season game at in-state rival IUPUI Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. in Indianapolis -- a win Saturday would earn the outright regular season title for the Mastodons, who already own the tie-breaker with second-place South Dakota State.

IPFW, ranked No. 14 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25, broke away from an early 5-5 deadlock at 17:02 with a 14-4 run to lead 19-9 at 11:05. Landis sparked the outburst with eight quick points, including two three-point field goals -- one from NBA distance. WIU battled back to within 29-25 at 5:07, getting eight points from Covington, but the Mastodons responded with a quick 7-2 run to extend the margin to 36-27 at 2:55. Konchar and Landis each made a pair of free throws, while Konchar added a three-pointer, as well. It was 39-34 at halftime behind 14 first-half points from Landis, and 10 from Konchar, while Covington had 10 points at the break for the Leathernecks.

IPFW outscored WIU 24-13 to begin the second half for its largest lead of the contest at 63-47 with 11:35 remaining. Five different players scored during the run for the Mastodons, including Calder (6), Stewart (6), Konchar (5), Landis (5) and senior Joe Reed/Greenwood (2). The Leathernecks put together a 23-14 run to close to within 77-70 with 4:28 left to play, getting seven points from Covington, but got no closer. IPFW secured its 11^th win away from home this season with a game-ending 10-5 advantage, including 8-8 free throws over the final 3:40 by Konchar (4-4), Calder (2-2) and Landis (2-2).

Landis led IPFW with his 24 points for his 11^th 20-point game this season, including five three-pointers to increase his new school season record to 108, adding three assists. Calder and Konchar each finished with 19 points, with Calder adding a game and career-high seven assists and five rebounds, while Konchar had a game-high eight rebounds. Stewart added 16 points, off the bench, including 4-6 three-pointers, while Reed contributed nine points and a game-high eight rebounds. IPFW shot 48% (26-54) from the field, including 42% (11-26) on three-pointers and 86% (24-28) at the free throw line.

Covington led Western Illinois with his game-high 26 points, adding four assists. Jalen Chapman and J.C. Fuller each had 11 points for the Leathernecks. WIU shot 46% (28-61) from the field, including 35% (7-20) on three-pointers and 71% (12-17) at the line.

IPFW was playing fellow Summit League member Western Illinois for the 22nd time overall, and the Mastodons now lead the series, 15-7. IPFW has won five of the last six games in the series.

IPFW continues its finest start to a season as a Division I program (2001-02) with its 23-7 record. It's the most regular season wins for the Mastodons in Division I, and the second 20-win season since moving up to Division I (25-11, 2013-14).

IPFW owns the tie-breaker with South Dakota State via a pair of wins over third-place Omaha, who SDSU split with this season. It's the first Summit League regular season title, outright or shared, for the Mastodons.