Wednesday, January 1
Highland Heights, Ky.
Noon
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Northern Kentucky
'Dons Open 2025 in Highland Heights, Kentucky
12/31/2024 10:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Hello 2025! The Mastodon men's basketball team will ring in the new year in Highland Heights, Kentucky to face a rival they know well: Northern Kentucky. The Norse and 'Dons have played 45 previous times. This year, the 'Dons enter Wednesday's contest after a victory at Green Bay. The Norse suffered their first league loss of the year on Sunday after falling in three overtimes at Robert Morris.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (10-5, 3-1 Horizon) at Northern Kentucky (7-7, 2-1 Horizon League)
When: Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Noon ET
Where: Highland Heights, Ky. | Truist Arena
Live Stats: Link
Listen: 1380 AM
Watch: ESPN+
Series History: Northern Kentucky leads 30-15. The series dates back to 1981. The 'Dons took both meetings last year.
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne | Northern Kentucky
'Dons & Ends
// The 'Dons are 1st in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (8.6) and 3rd in turnover margin (7.3).
- The 'Dons committed no turnovers in a 103-52 win over Defiance on Dec. 20, tying an NCAA record.
- 10 times this year have the 'Dons have committed single-digit turnovers in a game.
- This isn't new. Last year: 10.4 turnovers/game (11th in the nation), +5.7 turnover margin (4th).
- In league games, the 'Dons are averaging 9.8 turnovers.
- Over the last five games (IU Indy, EMU, Defiance, Michigan and Green Bay), the 'Dons are averaging only 6.4 turnovers per game.
- Eric Mulder has recorded just four turnovers in 334 minutes.
- Quinton Morton-Robertson (2.53, 78th) and Rasheed Bello (2.48, 84th) are in the top 100 in assist/ turnover ratio.
// In the nation the Mastodons are:
- 1st in fewest turnovers per game (8.6)
- 3rd in turnover margin (7.3)
- 14th in assist/turnover ratio (1.73)
- 18th in 3-pointers per game (10.7)
- 27th in turnovers forced per game (15.93)
- 35th in effective field goal percentage (56.7 percent)
- 42nd in 3-point attempts per game (28.3)
- 49th in points per game (82.7)
// Multiple 'Dons are shooting better than 40 percent from three this year:
- Maximus Nelson - 41.9 percent (36-of-86)
- Corey Hadnot II - 43.1 percent (22-of-51)
// In league play, Quinton Morton-Robertson is 10-of-22 (45.5 percent) from three.
// Per Ken Pom, the 'Dons lead the nation in minutes continuity at 75.7 percent. Ken Pom describes the stat as "determining what percentage of a team's minutes are played by the same player from last season to this season." The current national average is 34.2 percent.
// Since the 2018-19 season, the 'Dons have four total games of 24 or more made free throws and three have come this season. The 26 the 'Dons made against Bethune-Cookman and Robert Morris are tied for the seventh most in the Division I era of the program for made free throws in a game.
// Deangelo Elisee earned his first career start on Dec. 29 at Green Bay. He had career highs with seven points and six rebounds.
// Trey Lewis earned career highs with 12 points and five rebounds at Green Bay (Dec. 29).
// A few 'Dons who hit scoring marks this season:
- Rasheed Bello scored his 1,500th career point vs. Eastern Michigan (Dec. 15). He now has 1,527 points, including 736 as a Mastodon.
- Jalen Jackson scored his 1,000th NCAA career point vs. Eastern Michigan (Dec. 15). He now has 843 points as a Mastodon.
// A few 'Dons nearing scoring marks:
- Quinton Morton-Robertson has 967 career points, needing 33 to reach 1,000 (Purdue Fort Wayne and Radford combined).
- Maximus Nelson has scored 492 career points, needing 8 to reach 500 for his career (Purdue Fort Wayne and Valparaiso combined).
- Eric Mulder has scored 445 career points, needing 55 to reach 500 for his career.
// Rasheed Bello had 12 assists at Green Bay (Dec. 29). He is the first Mastodon with 12 assists since Jarred Godfrey recorded 12 in the Horizon League Tournament at Cleveland State in 2021 in a triple overtime game. The last Mastodon with 12 assists in a 40-minute contest was John Konchar who had 14 at Denver on Feb. 14, 2019. Bello is the first Horizon League player to reach 12 assists in a league game since Jalen Moore had 14 and 13 for Oakland during the 2021-22 season.
// Notes on the Defiance contest:
- The 'Dons recorded zero turnovers, just the third team to so since 2004 (per sports-reference.com)
- The 'Dons were +25 in turnover margin.
- Six 'Dons finished in double-figures.
// This season the 'Dons have:
- made 10 or more 3-pointers nine times.
- forced 20 turnovers four times.
- recorded 19 or more assists four times.
- shot 50 percent or better seven times.
- scored 50 points in a half six times. Four times against a Division I opponent.
// The 20 3-pointers the 'Dons made at Eastern Michigan (Dec. 15) set a new venue record at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on EMU's campus. It was one short of tying the program record for single 3-pointers for the 'Dons.
// The 'Dons rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat Drexel (Nov. 25), the largest deficit they have overcome this season.
// The Mastodons' 89 points against Penn State (Nov. 20) stand as the second most points the 'Dons have ever scored against a Big Ten team, only behind the 92-72 win at Indiana on Dec. 18, 2017. The Mastodons' 89 points would have been enough offense to win 25 of their previous 27 contests against Big Ten schools. The 'Dons led by as many as 11 points, holding a 47-36 lead with 1:24 left in the first half.
// Jalen Jackson drew 12 fouls against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 12), going 13-of-16 from the free throw line. His 13 free throws tied for fifth most in game in the program's NCAA Division I era.
// The 'Dons led 64-60 at UCF (Nov. 8) with 6:57 left following a Rasheed Bello 3-pointer before ultimately falling in the game 75-68. The 'Dons kept UCF scoreless for the first 6:23 of the game.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (10-5, 3-1 Horizon) at Northern Kentucky (7-7, 2-1 Horizon League)
When: Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Noon ET
Where: Highland Heights, Ky. | Truist Arena
Live Stats: Link
Listen: 1380 AM
Watch: ESPN+
Series History: Northern Kentucky leads 30-15. The series dates back to 1981. The 'Dons took both meetings last year.
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne | Northern Kentucky
'Dons & Ends
// The 'Dons are 1st in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (8.6) and 3rd in turnover margin (7.3).
- The 'Dons committed no turnovers in a 103-52 win over Defiance on Dec. 20, tying an NCAA record.
- 10 times this year have the 'Dons have committed single-digit turnovers in a game.
- This isn't new. Last year: 10.4 turnovers/game (11th in the nation), +5.7 turnover margin (4th).
- In league games, the 'Dons are averaging 9.8 turnovers.
- Over the last five games (IU Indy, EMU, Defiance, Michigan and Green Bay), the 'Dons are averaging only 6.4 turnovers per game.
- Eric Mulder has recorded just four turnovers in 334 minutes.
- Quinton Morton-Robertson (2.53, 78th) and Rasheed Bello (2.48, 84th) are in the top 100 in assist/ turnover ratio.
// In the nation the Mastodons are:
- 1st in fewest turnovers per game (8.6)
- 3rd in turnover margin (7.3)
- 14th in assist/turnover ratio (1.73)
- 18th in 3-pointers per game (10.7)
- 27th in turnovers forced per game (15.93)
- 35th in effective field goal percentage (56.7 percent)
- 42nd in 3-point attempts per game (28.3)
- 49th in points per game (82.7)
// Multiple 'Dons are shooting better than 40 percent from three this year:
- Maximus Nelson - 41.9 percent (36-of-86)
- Corey Hadnot II - 43.1 percent (22-of-51)
// In league play, Quinton Morton-Robertson is 10-of-22 (45.5 percent) from three.
// Per Ken Pom, the 'Dons lead the nation in minutes continuity at 75.7 percent. Ken Pom describes the stat as "determining what percentage of a team's minutes are played by the same player from last season to this season." The current national average is 34.2 percent.
// Since the 2018-19 season, the 'Dons have four total games of 24 or more made free throws and three have come this season. The 26 the 'Dons made against Bethune-Cookman and Robert Morris are tied for the seventh most in the Division I era of the program for made free throws in a game.
// Deangelo Elisee earned his first career start on Dec. 29 at Green Bay. He had career highs with seven points and six rebounds.
// Trey Lewis earned career highs with 12 points and five rebounds at Green Bay (Dec. 29).
// A few 'Dons who hit scoring marks this season:
- Rasheed Bello scored his 1,500th career point vs. Eastern Michigan (Dec. 15). He now has 1,527 points, including 736 as a Mastodon.
- Jalen Jackson scored his 1,000th NCAA career point vs. Eastern Michigan (Dec. 15). He now has 843 points as a Mastodon.
// A few 'Dons nearing scoring marks:
- Quinton Morton-Robertson has 967 career points, needing 33 to reach 1,000 (Purdue Fort Wayne and Radford combined).
- Maximus Nelson has scored 492 career points, needing 8 to reach 500 for his career (Purdue Fort Wayne and Valparaiso combined).
- Eric Mulder has scored 445 career points, needing 55 to reach 500 for his career.
// Rasheed Bello had 12 assists at Green Bay (Dec. 29). He is the first Mastodon with 12 assists since Jarred Godfrey recorded 12 in the Horizon League Tournament at Cleveland State in 2021 in a triple overtime game. The last Mastodon with 12 assists in a 40-minute contest was John Konchar who had 14 at Denver on Feb. 14, 2019. Bello is the first Horizon League player to reach 12 assists in a league game since Jalen Moore had 14 and 13 for Oakland during the 2021-22 season.
// Notes on the Defiance contest:
- The 'Dons recorded zero turnovers, just the third team to so since 2004 (per sports-reference.com)
- The 'Dons were +25 in turnover margin.
- Six 'Dons finished in double-figures.
// This season the 'Dons have:
- made 10 or more 3-pointers nine times.
- forced 20 turnovers four times.
- recorded 19 or more assists four times.
- shot 50 percent or better seven times.
- scored 50 points in a half six times. Four times against a Division I opponent.
// The 20 3-pointers the 'Dons made at Eastern Michigan (Dec. 15) set a new venue record at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on EMU's campus. It was one short of tying the program record for single 3-pointers for the 'Dons.
// The 'Dons rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat Drexel (Nov. 25), the largest deficit they have overcome this season.
// The Mastodons' 89 points against Penn State (Nov. 20) stand as the second most points the 'Dons have ever scored against a Big Ten team, only behind the 92-72 win at Indiana on Dec. 18, 2017. The Mastodons' 89 points would have been enough offense to win 25 of their previous 27 contests against Big Ten schools. The 'Dons led by as many as 11 points, holding a 47-36 lead with 1:24 left in the first half.
// Jalen Jackson drew 12 fouls against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 12), going 13-of-16 from the free throw line. His 13 free throws tied for fifth most in game in the program's NCAA Division I era.
// The 'Dons led 64-60 at UCF (Nov. 8) with 6:57 left following a Rasheed Bello 3-pointer before ultimately falling in the game 75-68. The 'Dons kept UCF scoreless for the first 6:23 of the game.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ 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
