Monday, October 27
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Ball State
Ball State Comes to Gates on Monday for MBB Exhibition
10/25/2025 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The first chance to see the 2025-26 Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball team is set for Monday (Oct. 27) in an exhibition against Ball State. It is the Mastodon Hoops Kickoff and the game is presented by McDonald's.
There will be free pizza for Purdue Fort Wayne students at the game.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Ball State
When: Monday, October 27 | 7 p.m. ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Listen: 1380 AM
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Series History: Ball State leads 4-1
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne
// Mastodon men's golfers Landon Smith and AJ Agnew will be recognized at the game on Monday during the second media timeout. Smith and Agnew rescued a man from a pond last week who had driven into the water.
// Jon Coffman enters the season with 198 career coaching victories. He needs just two more to reach 200 for his career. He is already the program leader in wins.
// In May 2025 head coach Jon Coffman was selected as a Red Coat recipient from the Mad Anthonys Foundation. Each year the Red Coat is given to an individual that has made a positive impact on the region and the state of Indiana. A few of the previous honorees include: Keith Busse, Chuck Surack, Brad Stevens, Bob Chase, Arnie Ball, Shelley Long, Matt Painter, Brian Kelly, Brad Stevens, Joe Tiller, Bob Knight and John Wooden. The Red Coat Gala began in 1958.
// The 2025-26 schedule opens with a visit to Mountain West member Grand Canyon on Nov. 3. Four days later the 'Dons travel to Ohio State, a game which will air on the Big Ten Network. Another notable non-league road game is a trip to Utah on Nov. 18, the first game against Utah since 2015. Three days later the Mastodons are at Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis. The last time the 'Dons played at Saint Louis was 2005. The final game before Christmas is a short trip to South Bend to play at Notre Dame in a noon start.
// The next time the 'Dons play in Fort Wayne will be for the 2025-26 home opener against Dominican on Nov. 9. Boyce College will come to Fort Wayne on Nov. 15. The Mastodons' first game at the Coliseum is set for Nov. 25 against Chicago State.
// The Mastodons have double-digit wins at home in 11 of the last 13 years. Last season the 'Dons opened the season 9-0 at home, the best undefeated home stretch to start a season in the program's NCAA Division I history.
// The Horizon League released windows for possible ESPN2/ESPNU broadcasts. The games will be picked about two weeks before the date. The 'Dons play in four of the windows.
Sunday, January 11 – 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 - at Robert Morris
Wednesday, February 4 – 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU - vs. Youngstown State
Thursday, February 12 – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 - at Green Bay
Sunday, February 22 – 2 p.m. ET on ESPNU - at Cleveland State
// The Mastodons were picked fifth in the 2025-26 Horizon League Preseason Poll. The 'Dons got 287 points and one first place vote. Six different teams received at least one first place vote.
// Last season the 'Dons:
- made 10 or more 3-pointers 18 times.
- forced 20 turnovers four times.
- recorded 19 or more assists five times.
- shot 50 percent or better 11 times.
- scored 50 points in a half eight times. Six times against a Division I opponent.
// 22 former Mastodons have played professionally in the last 14 years.
// The 'Dons have won 24 consecutive regular season home games against non-league opponents, a streak that started on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Stetson.
// The 'Dons have been top 25 in the nation in 3-pointers per game in eight of the last 10 years and top 35 in the nation in points per game in seven of the last 12 years.
// Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the 'Dons are 7th in the nation in total made 3-pointers (3,393), 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.0 percent) and 25th in field goal percentage (46.6 percent).
// Purdue Fort Wayne finished each of the last two seasons ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin; in 2024-25 (5.3) and in 2023-24 (5.7).
// Division II -> Fort Wayne
- Ja'Corey Lipkins joins the 'Dons from NCAA Division II Charleston (W.V.) last year. He was the league's Freshman of the Year. He is the third in a line of accomplished Division II players to arrive in Fort Wayne.
- Anthony Roberts was a two-time All-NSIC First Team at St. Cloud State before scoring 716 points in two season for the 'Dons 2022-24.
- Rasheed Bello was the 2022-23 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year at UW-Parkside before scoring 1,047 points in two seasons for the 'Dons 2023-25. Bello picked up Third Team and First Team All-Horizon League honors in his Mastodon career.
// Maximus Nelson...:
// ... has improved his 3-point shooting each season. He shot 34.2 percent as a freshman at Valparaiso. In 2023-24 he shot 37.7 for the Mastodons. In 2024-25 he was at 40.3 percent.
// ... finished last season shooting 40.3 percent (71-of-176) from three. He has 138 3-pointers in two seasons as a Mastodon, 20th in program history. He'll need to get to 184 3-pointers to reach the top 10. The 10th spot is held by Bobby Planutis (2020-23).
// ... 354-of-382 shot attempts in his Mastodon career have been 3-point attempts.
// Corey Hadnot II...:
// ... was named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
// ... had 12 double-digit scoring games as a sophomore after five as a freshman.
// ... across the board, improved his shooting in 2024-25 from his freshman season in 2023-24. Field goal (from 40.9 percent to 44.6 percent), 3-point (from 25.0 percent to 39.2 percent) and free throw (from 68.8 percent to 80.4 percent) all improved.
// ... earned five Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors in 2023-24.
// Yuval Levin..:
// ... played for Kiryat Ata in Israeli Winner League, Israel's top professional league.
// ... traveled a day and a half in a boat across the Mediterranean from Haifa, Israel to Cyprus in summer 2025 to enable travel to Fort Wayne.
// DeAndre Craig Jr....:
// ... started just four games as a freshman for Denver in 2023-24, before starting 29 in 2024-25 for the Pioneers.
// ... 49.4 percent field goal percentage at Denver last season ranked third in the Summit League.
// ... enters the season with 618 career NCAA Division I points.
// Mikale Stevenson....:
// ... is no stranger to the Summit City, playing for South Side High School.
// ... led the country with 285 total assists (7.9 per game) for Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2022-23.
// ... averaged 10.9 points at Grambling State last season.
// ... helped Grambling State to the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. The Tigers defeated Montana State in the First Four before falling to Purdue.
// ... enters the season with 544 career NCAA Division I points.
// Ja'Corey Lipkins...:
// ... picked up Mountain East Freshman of the Year honors NCAA Division II in 2024-25 for Charleston (W.V.)
// ... also named to the All-Mountain East Second Team in 2024-25 after averaging 14.3 points per game.
// ... scored 42 points on 13-of-20 shooting including 10-of-15 from three vs. Wheeling (Dec. 14, 2024)
// Darius Duffy...:
// ... had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. Portland State (Nov. 22, 2024).
// ... totaled eight points and seven rebounds at Green Bay (Dec. 11, 2024).
// ... finished 2024-25 81.8 percent from the floor (45-of-55).
There will be free pizza for Purdue Fort Wayne students at the game.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Ball State
When: Monday, October 27 | 7 p.m. ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Listen: 1380 AM
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Series History: Ball State leads 4-1
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne
// Mastodon men's golfers Landon Smith and AJ Agnew will be recognized at the game on Monday during the second media timeout. Smith and Agnew rescued a man from a pond last week who had driven into the water.
// Jon Coffman enters the season with 198 career coaching victories. He needs just two more to reach 200 for his career. He is already the program leader in wins.
// In May 2025 head coach Jon Coffman was selected as a Red Coat recipient from the Mad Anthonys Foundation. Each year the Red Coat is given to an individual that has made a positive impact on the region and the state of Indiana. A few of the previous honorees include: Keith Busse, Chuck Surack, Brad Stevens, Bob Chase, Arnie Ball, Shelley Long, Matt Painter, Brian Kelly, Brad Stevens, Joe Tiller, Bob Knight and John Wooden. The Red Coat Gala began in 1958.
// The 2025-26 schedule opens with a visit to Mountain West member Grand Canyon on Nov. 3. Four days later the 'Dons travel to Ohio State, a game which will air on the Big Ten Network. Another notable non-league road game is a trip to Utah on Nov. 18, the first game against Utah since 2015. Three days later the Mastodons are at Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis. The last time the 'Dons played at Saint Louis was 2005. The final game before Christmas is a short trip to South Bend to play at Notre Dame in a noon start.
// The next time the 'Dons play in Fort Wayne will be for the 2025-26 home opener against Dominican on Nov. 9. Boyce College will come to Fort Wayne on Nov. 15. The Mastodons' first game at the Coliseum is set for Nov. 25 against Chicago State.
// The Mastodons have double-digit wins at home in 11 of the last 13 years. Last season the 'Dons opened the season 9-0 at home, the best undefeated home stretch to start a season in the program's NCAA Division I history.
// The Horizon League released windows for possible ESPN2/ESPNU broadcasts. The games will be picked about two weeks before the date. The 'Dons play in four of the windows.
Sunday, January 11 – 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 - at Robert Morris
Wednesday, February 4 – 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU - vs. Youngstown State
Thursday, February 12 – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 - at Green Bay
Sunday, February 22 – 2 p.m. ET on ESPNU - at Cleveland State
// The Mastodons were picked fifth in the 2025-26 Horizon League Preseason Poll. The 'Dons got 287 points and one first place vote. Six different teams received at least one first place vote.
// Last season the 'Dons:
- made 10 or more 3-pointers 18 times.
- forced 20 turnovers four times.
- recorded 19 or more assists five times.
- shot 50 percent or better 11 times.
- scored 50 points in a half eight times. Six times against a Division I opponent.
// 22 former Mastodons have played professionally in the last 14 years.
// The 'Dons have won 24 consecutive regular season home games against non-league opponents, a streak that started on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Stetson.
// The 'Dons have been top 25 in the nation in 3-pointers per game in eight of the last 10 years and top 35 in the nation in points per game in seven of the last 12 years.
// Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the 'Dons are 7th in the nation in total made 3-pointers (3,393), 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (37.0 percent) and 25th in field goal percentage (46.6 percent).
// Purdue Fort Wayne finished each of the last two seasons ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin; in 2024-25 (5.3) and in 2023-24 (5.7).
// Division II -> Fort Wayne
- Ja'Corey Lipkins joins the 'Dons from NCAA Division II Charleston (W.V.) last year. He was the league's Freshman of the Year. He is the third in a line of accomplished Division II players to arrive in Fort Wayne.
- Anthony Roberts was a two-time All-NSIC First Team at St. Cloud State before scoring 716 points in two season for the 'Dons 2022-24.
- Rasheed Bello was the 2022-23 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year at UW-Parkside before scoring 1,047 points in two seasons for the 'Dons 2023-25. Bello picked up Third Team and First Team All-Horizon League honors in his Mastodon career.
// Maximus Nelson...:
// ... has improved his 3-point shooting each season. He shot 34.2 percent as a freshman at Valparaiso. In 2023-24 he shot 37.7 for the Mastodons. In 2024-25 he was at 40.3 percent.
// ... finished last season shooting 40.3 percent (71-of-176) from three. He has 138 3-pointers in two seasons as a Mastodon, 20th in program history. He'll need to get to 184 3-pointers to reach the top 10. The 10th spot is held by Bobby Planutis (2020-23).
// ... 354-of-382 shot attempts in his Mastodon career have been 3-point attempts.
// Corey Hadnot II...:
// ... was named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
// ... had 12 double-digit scoring games as a sophomore after five as a freshman.
// ... across the board, improved his shooting in 2024-25 from his freshman season in 2023-24. Field goal (from 40.9 percent to 44.6 percent), 3-point (from 25.0 percent to 39.2 percent) and free throw (from 68.8 percent to 80.4 percent) all improved.
// ... earned five Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors in 2023-24.
// Yuval Levin..:
// ... played for Kiryat Ata in Israeli Winner League, Israel's top professional league.
// ... traveled a day and a half in a boat across the Mediterranean from Haifa, Israel to Cyprus in summer 2025 to enable travel to Fort Wayne.
// DeAndre Craig Jr....:
// ... started just four games as a freshman for Denver in 2023-24, before starting 29 in 2024-25 for the Pioneers.
// ... 49.4 percent field goal percentage at Denver last season ranked third in the Summit League.
// ... enters the season with 618 career NCAA Division I points.
// Mikale Stevenson....:
// ... is no stranger to the Summit City, playing for South Side High School.
// ... led the country with 285 total assists (7.9 per game) for Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2022-23.
// ... averaged 10.9 points at Grambling State last season.
// ... helped Grambling State to the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24. The Tigers defeated Montana State in the First Four before falling to Purdue.
// ... enters the season with 544 career NCAA Division I points.
// Ja'Corey Lipkins...:
// ... picked up Mountain East Freshman of the Year honors NCAA Division II in 2024-25 for Charleston (W.V.)
// ... also named to the All-Mountain East Second Team in 2024-25 after averaging 14.3 points per game.
// ... scored 42 points on 13-of-20 shooting including 10-of-15 from three vs. Wheeling (Dec. 14, 2024)
// Darius Duffy...:
// ... had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. Portland State (Nov. 22, 2024).
// ... totaled eight points and seven rebounds at Green Bay (Dec. 11, 2024).
// ... finished 2024-25 81.8 percent from the floor (45-of-55).
// New Challenge:
The Purdue Fort Wayne or Indiana Fort Wayne student who attends the most Mastodon home athletics events this year will win an iPad at the end of the 2025-26 school year! Make sure to check in and get your QR code scanned at the game to start tracking your attendance.
Players Mentioned
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