'Dons Host Ball State In CIT Lou Henson Classic On Wednesday

Who: Ball State Cardinals
When: Wednesday, March 15 | 7:00 PM ET
Where: Gates Center (1,800) | Fort Wayne, Ind.
All-Time Series: Ball State leads 4-0
Radio:  ESPN 1380 AM/100.9 FM
    PBP: Brett Rump Color: Art Saltsberg Link
Live Stats: Link
Live Video: Facebook Live (Facebook.com/GoMastodons)
    PBP: John Nolan Color: Jeff Parrish
Game Notes (PDF): Fort Wayne | Ball State

QUICK HITS
• This is the third appearance for the Mastodons in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament since the start of the event in 2009.
• In 2014 the 'Dons defeated Akron at home 97-91 and fell on the road at VMI 106-95 in the CIT. In 2015 the 'Dons lost 82-77 at Evansville.
• With Fort Wayne's 2016 berth in the NIT, a 79-55 loss at San Diego State, the 'Dons have made postseason play in four consecutive seasons.
• The 'Dons are 13-3 at home this season and 7-2 at the Gates Sports Center.
• Brent Calhoun has scored in double-digits in each of the last six games. It is the longest stretch of his career. He is averaging 16.3 points per game in the stretch and had a career-high 21 points at Western Illinois (Feb. 25).
• Kason Harrell's career 3-point percentage of 46.1 percent ranks second among all active NCAA Division I student-athletes.
• The Mastodons are 12-4 when Bryson Scott leads the team in scoring.

LOU HENSON CLASSIC
Wednesday's contest is the inaugural Lou Henson Classic. The game pays tribute to former Illinois and New Mexico State coach Lou Henson. The winning team will be awarded a trophy following the contest and advance to the next round of the CIT. Henson, who is the all-time winningest coach in New Mexico State history with 289 victories, is one of only 11 coaches to take two schools to the NCAA Final Four. His teams made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State (21-12) tied with Western Michigan for first in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division with an 11-7 mark. The Cardinals won their first round MAC Tournament contest 66-63 against Western Michigan before falling 74-70 to Akron. They rank second in their conference for 3-point percentage (.379) and assists (15.6 per game). Sophomore Tayler Persons leads the team with an average 15.4 points per game and 4.9 assists per game.

SCOUTING THE MASTODONS
The Mastodons (19-12) enter Wednesday's game with four Mastodons scoring in double-digits. Mo Evans leads the team (16.8), followed by Bryson Scott (16.5), John Konchar (15.3) and Kason Harrell (10.8).

THE SERIES
Ball State leads the all-time series with Fort Wayne 4-0.
12/30/2000 - L - 83-61 (Muncie, Ind.)
12/06/2001 - L - 113-89 (Muncie, Ind.)
12/31/2007 - L - 69-62 (Muncie, Ind.)
12/01/2008 - L - 54-52 (Fort Wayne, Ind./Memorial Coliseum)

LAST TIME OUT
The Mastodons fell to the Omaha Mavericks 84-80 in the first round of the Summit League Tournament (Feb. 23). Konchar led the team with 25 points. Brent Calhoun scored a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT
The second round of the College Insider Tournament will be held March 17-20. There are 26 teams in the field. Following the first round, the top three seeds (based on KenPom rankings) will receive a bye to the quarterfinals (March 23-26). The Semifinals will be held March 29 and air on the CBS Sports Network. The Championship be played on March 31 and also air on the CBS Sports Network.

IN NATIONAL RANKINGS...
Fort Wayne ranks fourth in the nation in 3-pointers per game (10.7), fourth in scoring (87.7), sixth in field goal percentage (49.7 percent), sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (40.7 percent) and sixth in assists per game (17.5), eighth in total 3-pointers (333).

MO IN NATIONAL RANKINGS...
In the nation, Mo Evans is 12th in assists per game (6.1), tied for 16th in the nation in total assists (190) and 18th in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9).

MO SCORING
Mo Evans picked up his 1,000th career point this year. He is the 13th player in program history to reach the plateau. He now owns 1,487 career points and ranks third all-time in scoring at Fort Wayne. He recently passed Bruce Roland's (1986-89) 1,477 points to take third. Next on the all-time scoring list is second place Sean Gibson (1989-93) with 1,765 career points.

MO THREES
Mo Evans became the program's career 3-pointer leader this season. He owns 257 career 3-pointers. His total is tied for 21st among active NCAA Division I student-athletes.

MO ASSISTS
Mo Evans ranks second all-time in career assists in program history with 451. He will finish in second place as the all-time leader in assists in Fort Wayne history is Lawrence Jordan (1985-86, 87-90). Jordan recorded 913.

SENSATIONAL SENIOR
Senior Brent Calhoun is making his senior year his best. He is averaging 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Each are on pace to be career bests.

JOHNNY ON THE SPOT
John Konchar is shooting 64.3 percent on the season, seventh best in the nation. He is 180-of-280 on the season.

2017 SUMMIT HONORS
John Konchar was named to the All-Summit League First Team for the second consecutive season. Mo Evans picked up Second Team honors while Bryson Scott was named to the All-Newcomer Team.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brent Calhoun

Mo Evans

Kason Harrell

John Konchar

Bryson Scott