Mastodons Open New Year With League Play at Gates

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne opens the final season of Summit League play on Wednesday (Jan. 1) with a New Year's Day contest against South Dakota. Tip for the men's game is at 3 p.m. The Mastodon women will host nationally ranked South Dakota at 12:30 p.m. Tickets, popcorn, hot dogs and soft drinks are only $1 for the doubleheader.

What: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (7-8, 0-0 Summit League) vs. South Dakota Coyotes (9-6, 0-1 Summit League)
When: Wednesday, January 1 | 3 p.m.
Where: Gates Sports Center | Fort Wayne, Ind.
All-Time Series: Mastodons lead 10-9
Radio: ESPN 1380 AM/100.9 FM
Talent: Brett Rump Listen
Television: CN81
Talent: John Nolan, Jeff Parrish
Online Video: www.YouTube.com/GoMastodons
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne | South Dakota

'DONS AND ENDS
• This will be the Mastodons' first game on New Year's Day since 1986 when the 'Dons lost at No. 6 Kentucky Wesleyan 95-63.
• The Mastodons are 2-3 in Summit League openers under head coach Jon Coffman.
• The 'Dons are opening league play at home for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The Mastodons opened league play at North Dakota last season and Oral Roberts the previous year.
• Deonte Billups has nine games this season with four or more rebounds, including six of his last seven games. He had a career-high seven rebounds vs. UIC. He is the first Mastodon freshman to grab seven rebounds in a game since Jax Levitch in 2017-18.
• Dylan Carl has 73 career blocks. He is tied for eighth place all-time in school history. He is tied with Jaraun Burrows (2006-08). In seventh place is Bruce Erwin who had 75 blocks from 1985-87).
• Marcus DeBerry is shooting 35.6 (21-of-59) from three on the season. He is out performing his career 3-point average of 32.5 percent.
• Cameron Benford is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game, up from the 3.2 last season. He is averaging 13.9 minutes per contest.
• Brian Patrick has scored in double-digits in all but three games this season.
• With North Dakota joining to the Summit League last season and Marcus DeBerry starting his career at Northern Arizona, DeBerry has played in a league that featured North Dakota all four seasons of his career.
• Marcus DeBerry is averaging only 1.6 fouls per 40 minutes in his career, this includes his time at Northern Arizona and Purdue Fort Wayne.
• This season, Marcus DeBerry is being called for 1.3 fouls per 40 minutes. That total ranks 30th in the nation and second in the league only to Oral Roberts' Max Abmas.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE
• The 'Dons are limiting opponents to 68.8 points per game this season. The last time the 'Dons finished a season limiting opponents to less than 70 points per game was in 2014-15 when foes averaged 67.1. The Division I era record for best opponent scoring average for the 'Dons was the 2012-13 squad that gave up 66.0 points per game.
• The Mastodons have held five opponents to 60 or fewer points this season.
• The 54 points the Mastodons allowed to Niagara earlier this year is the Mastodons' best defensive effort against a Division I opponent since allowing 51 to UIC on Nov. 18, 2017.
• Against Judson, the Mastodons allowed 11 points in the first half. It was the fewest points the Mastodons have allowed in a half since Judson scored 11 in each half against the Mastodons on Nov. 20, 2012.

IN GODFREY WE TRUST
• Jarred Godfrey picked up his first career Summit League Player of the Week honor on Dec. 2. He helped the 'Dons to wins over Niagara and Grand Canyon. He finished with a career-high 28 points against Grand Canyon.
• The sophomore guard has recorded eight rebounds in a game twice this season (vs. Manchester and at Kent State).
• Jarred Godfrey is 4th in the league in total points (238) and 6th in points per game (15.9).
• He is 4th in the league in assists (52).
• Jarred Godfrey is 1st in the Summit League in minutes per game (33.6).
• Jarred Godfrey recorded a career-high four 3-pointers against Stetson.
• The Mastodons are 3-1 when Godfrey scores 20 points or more.
• Jarred Godfrey recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds while adding six assists and two steals vs. Judson (Dec. 10).

TRIPLE DIGITS
Head coach Jon Coffman picked up his 100th career victory thanks to the Mastodons' win over Niagara on Nov. 27. He has the most wins in the NCAA Division I era (2001 to present) in program history. Only Andy Piazza has more wins on the Mastodon bench. Piazza went 142-108 from 1987-96 when the 'Dons were a member of NCAA Division II.

IN THE RANKINGS
• Jarred Godfrey is 14th in the nation in total minutes (504).
• Jarred Godfrey is 48th in the nation in made field goals (87).
• Jarred Godfrey is 53rd in the nation in total points (238).
• In the nation, the 'Dons rank 3rd in 3-point field goal attempts (413).
• In the nation, the 'Dons rank 13th in made 3-pointers (134).
• In the nation, the 'Dons rank 35th in total steals (112).

GETTING CLOSER TO 1,000
Marcus DeBerry owns 897 points in his career. This total combines his time at Northern Arizona and Purdue Fort Wayne.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Mastodons Open New Year With League Play at Gates

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cameron Benford

Deonte Billups

Dylan Carl

Marcus DeBerry

Jarred Godfrey

Brian Patrick

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics