Sunday, December 31
Fort Wayne, Ind.
2 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Detroit Mercy
Anthony Roberts
Ball Drops on 2023 With #HLMBB Contest Against the Titans
12/30/2023 1:48:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Mastodons will look to move to 4-0 in league play when Detroit Mercy comes to the Gates Sports Center on Sunday (Dec. 31). Kids 18 and under can receive a free general admission ticket to the game at the box office window. Fans will also receive a free Marathon can koozie (while supplies last).
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (12-2, 3-0 Horizon League) vs. Detroit Mercy Titans (0-14, 0-3 Horizon League)
When: Friday, December 31 | 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Video: ESPN+
Radio: 1380 AM
Tickets: Link
Game Program: Link
Series Record: Titans lead 5-4
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne (PDF) | Detroit Mercy (PDF)
'DONS & ENDS:
// A victory on Sunday over Detroit Mercy would put the 'Dons at 13-2, tying for the program record for best start over the first 15 games of the season. The 1988-89 and 1992-93 teams also started 13-2.
// The 'Dons are 3-5 all-time on New Year's Eve but have won the last two thanks to a 102-91 win over Oral Roberts in 2016 and a 76-71 win at Youngstown State on 2022.
// Rasheed Bello is nearing 1,000 career points. Combined with his scoring at NCAA Division II UW-Parkside, he has 995 career NCAA points.
// The 'Dons are 5-0 when Jalen Jackson leads the team in scoring.
// The 'Dons are 3-0 in league play for the first time since 2018-19 when the 'Dons opened 4-0 in Summit League play.
// The 'Dons have recorded double-digit steals in seven games. They have had more steals than their opponent in 10-of-14 games.
// Rasheed Bello had seven steals on Dec. 29 vs. Northern Kentucky, tying a program record in the NCAA Division I era. Some of the best individual steal performances in program history have come against Northern Kentucky. During the NCAA Division II era, Randy Spicer had eight steals against Northern Kentucky on Jan. 9, 1999.
// The 'Dons have made at least eight 3-pointers in 10-of-14 games and double digit treys in five games.
// Quinton Morton Robertson is 6th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 47.0 percent (39-of-83). Maximus Nelson is shooting 46.9 percent (32-of-70) from three. Nelson doesn't appear on the national rankings as he is shy of the 2.5 made 3-pointers per game required to make the list.
// The Mastodons average 20.3 points off turnover this season, which is 24.5 percent of all points. Sparking points off turnovers, the 'Dons are 8th in the nation in turnovers forced per game at 17.71 and 10th in the nation in fastbreak points with 17.21.
// The 'Dons have had fewer turnovers than their opponent in all but two games this season (at Oakland, Dec. 2 and at Pitt, Dec. 20).
// The 'Dons are ranked No. 12 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major 25 Poll. They have been as high as No. 9 this season.
// The 'Dons are No. 85 in the latest NET rankings, the 'Dons reached a program-best No. 53 on Dec. 8, 2023.
// Purdue Fort Wayne's scoring margin of 16.6 is first in the league.
// The 'Dons have limited six consecutive opponents to under 30 percent shooting from three.
// All five starters reached double-digits vs. SEMO (Dec. 9) and vs. Bethune-Cookman (Dec. 16). Additionally, six times this season four starters have reached double-digits.
// Rasheed Bello has reached double-digits in every game this season but one this season. Jalen Jackson and Anthony Roberts each have just two games without 10 points.
// The 'Dons are averaging 83.0 points per game, 38th in the nation and up from 73.9 last season.
// Purdue Fort Wayne's 10.1 steals per game this season are up from the 7.3 last year. The Division I era program high for steals per game was the 8.8 mark in 2021-22.
// Four Mastodons are averaging better than 12.0 points per game: Rasheed Bello (14.6), Anthony Roberts (14.4), Jalen Jackson (14.5) and Quinton Morton-Robertson (12.5).
// The Mastodons' 5-0 start was their longest undefeated stretch to start a season as a NCAA Division I program. It was their longest stretch to start a season since the 1992-93 team opened 9-0. That team earned a bid in the NCAA Division II Tournament, the only NCAA bid (Division I or II) in program history.
// Thanks to the 5-0 start to the season, the 'Dons now have now had a winning streak of at-least four games in every season since 2009-10 except for one (2017-18). That is 14-of-15 seasons.
// The 'Dons have won 20 straight home non-league games, a streak that started on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Stetson.
// Thanks to wins over Northern Arizona (Nov. 17) and South Dakota (Nov. 18), the 'Dons won the Arizona Tip-Off. Quinton Morton-Robertson was named the MVP of the event and selected to the All-Tournament Team with Rasheed Bello.
// The 'Dons have partnered with Team IMPACT to add Bolton Richardson to the squad in 2023-24. Added to the team at a signing ceremony in July, Bolton will be at games, practices and other team activities.
TOP 25 NATIONAL RANKINGS:
// 3rd in the nation in turnover margin (+7.9)
// 8th in the nation in turnovers forced per game (17.71)
// 10th in the nation in fast break points per game (17.21)
// 12th in the nation in three point percentage defense (27.0 percent)
// 14th in the nation in steals per game (10.1)
// 19th in the nation in scoring margin (+16.6)
// 22nd in 3-pointers per game (9.9)
~ Feel The Rumble ~
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (12-2, 3-0 Horizon League) vs. Detroit Mercy Titans (0-14, 0-3 Horizon League)
When: Friday, December 31 | 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Video: ESPN+
Radio: 1380 AM
Tickets: Link
Game Program: Link
Series Record: Titans lead 5-4
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne (PDF) | Detroit Mercy (PDF)
'DONS & ENDS:
// A victory on Sunday over Detroit Mercy would put the 'Dons at 13-2, tying for the program record for best start over the first 15 games of the season. The 1988-89 and 1992-93 teams also started 13-2.
// The 'Dons are 3-5 all-time on New Year's Eve but have won the last two thanks to a 102-91 win over Oral Roberts in 2016 and a 76-71 win at Youngstown State on 2022.
// Rasheed Bello is nearing 1,000 career points. Combined with his scoring at NCAA Division II UW-Parkside, he has 995 career NCAA points.
// The 'Dons are 5-0 when Jalen Jackson leads the team in scoring.
// The 'Dons are 3-0 in league play for the first time since 2018-19 when the 'Dons opened 4-0 in Summit League play.
// The 'Dons have recorded double-digit steals in seven games. They have had more steals than their opponent in 10-of-14 games.
// Rasheed Bello had seven steals on Dec. 29 vs. Northern Kentucky, tying a program record in the NCAA Division I era. Some of the best individual steal performances in program history have come against Northern Kentucky. During the NCAA Division II era, Randy Spicer had eight steals against Northern Kentucky on Jan. 9, 1999.
// The 'Dons have made at least eight 3-pointers in 10-of-14 games and double digit treys in five games.
// Quinton Morton Robertson is 6th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 47.0 percent (39-of-83). Maximus Nelson is shooting 46.9 percent (32-of-70) from three. Nelson doesn't appear on the national rankings as he is shy of the 2.5 made 3-pointers per game required to make the list.
// The Mastodons average 20.3 points off turnover this season, which is 24.5 percent of all points. Sparking points off turnovers, the 'Dons are 8th in the nation in turnovers forced per game at 17.71 and 10th in the nation in fastbreak points with 17.21.
// The 'Dons have had fewer turnovers than their opponent in all but two games this season (at Oakland, Dec. 2 and at Pitt, Dec. 20).
// The 'Dons are ranked No. 12 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major 25 Poll. They have been as high as No. 9 this season.
// The 'Dons are No. 85 in the latest NET rankings, the 'Dons reached a program-best No. 53 on Dec. 8, 2023.
// Purdue Fort Wayne's scoring margin of 16.6 is first in the league.
// The 'Dons have limited six consecutive opponents to under 30 percent shooting from three.
// All five starters reached double-digits vs. SEMO (Dec. 9) and vs. Bethune-Cookman (Dec. 16). Additionally, six times this season four starters have reached double-digits.
// Rasheed Bello has reached double-digits in every game this season but one this season. Jalen Jackson and Anthony Roberts each have just two games without 10 points.
// The 'Dons are averaging 83.0 points per game, 38th in the nation and up from 73.9 last season.
// Purdue Fort Wayne's 10.1 steals per game this season are up from the 7.3 last year. The Division I era program high for steals per game was the 8.8 mark in 2021-22.
// Four Mastodons are averaging better than 12.0 points per game: Rasheed Bello (14.6), Anthony Roberts (14.4), Jalen Jackson (14.5) and Quinton Morton-Robertson (12.5).
// The Mastodons' 5-0 start was their longest undefeated stretch to start a season as a NCAA Division I program. It was their longest stretch to start a season since the 1992-93 team opened 9-0. That team earned a bid in the NCAA Division II Tournament, the only NCAA bid (Division I or II) in program history.
// Thanks to the 5-0 start to the season, the 'Dons now have now had a winning streak of at-least four games in every season since 2009-10 except for one (2017-18). That is 14-of-15 seasons.
// The 'Dons have won 20 straight home non-league games, a streak that started on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Stetson.
// Thanks to wins over Northern Arizona (Nov. 17) and South Dakota (Nov. 18), the 'Dons won the Arizona Tip-Off. Quinton Morton-Robertson was named the MVP of the event and selected to the All-Tournament Team with Rasheed Bello.
// The 'Dons have partnered with Team IMPACT to add Bolton Richardson to the squad in 2023-24. Added to the team at a signing ceremony in July, Bolton will be at games, practices and other team activities.
TOP 25 NATIONAL RANKINGS:
// 3rd in the nation in turnover margin (+7.9)
// 8th in the nation in turnovers forced per game (17.71)
// 10th in the nation in fast break points per game (17.21)
// 12th in the nation in three point percentage defense (27.0 percent)
// 14th in the nation in steals per game (10.1)
// 19th in the nation in scoring margin (+16.6)
// 22nd in 3-pointers per game (9.9)
~ Feel The Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballCorey Hadnot II is back from the Waffle House
Thursday, October 09
'Dons at the Waffle House
Tuesday, October 07
Team Impact Graduation
Thursday, June 26
PFW vs Oakland Post Game and Highlights
Saturday, February 22
