‘Dons Rumble Back for #HLMBB Win Over NKU

Saturday, December 6

Fort Wayne, Ind.

2 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

5-6,1-1Horizon

Northern Kentucky

7-3,1-1Horizon

Northern Ky.

Purdue Fort Wayne

A happy Mason Shrout after the game.

12/6/2025 5:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne erased a 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Northern Kentucky 79-77 on Saturday (Dec. 6) afternoon at the Gates Sports Center.

All told it was a 24-3 run for the Mastodons to start the second half. The stretch lasted the first seven minutes of the half and saw the 'Dons go 8-of-11 from the floor. They made all four from beyond the arc. Meanwhile NKU turned the ball over five times and was 1-of-6 to start the period.

After falling behind by eight points, NKU cut their deficit to 60-59 with 8:28 remaining. NKU didn't tie the game again until a pair of free throws made it a 74-74 game with 1:23 remaining. But back came the 'Dons. DeAndre Craig Jr. made a jumper with 57 seconds left put the 'Dons up 76-74, a lead they would never give up. A pair of Corey Hadnot II free throws later gave the Mastodons a 78-74 lead with 13 seconds remaining.

Seven 'Dons scored in the 50-point second half for the Mastodons. Redshirt freshman Ebrahim Kaba had five consecutive points in the half, putting the 'Dons up 51-47 with 13:32 remaining.

It is the first time the Mastodons have erased a 15-point lead and won since falling behind Drexel 35-20 on Nov. 25, 2024 and winning 87-81.

Hadnot finished with a team-best 25 points with four steals, four assists and four rebounds. Craig totaled 16 points with four rebounds. Mikale Stevenson had 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

The 'Dons went from shooting 34.5 percent in the first half to 64.3 percent in the second, finishing at 49.1 percent in the game. NKU shot 51.5 percent in the first half and 25.8 percent in the second half, finishing at 39.7 percent. Dan Gherezgher led the Norse with 27 points on seven 3-pointers.

The win extends the Mastodons' win-streak at the Gates Sports Center to 15 games.

NKU falls to 7-3 (1-1 Horizon). Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 5-6 (1-1 Horizon). The 'Dons are back in action on Wednesday (Dec. 10). It will be a Mastodon doubleheader at the Coliseum for Defend the Fort. The men will play Eastern Michigan at 8 p.m. The Mastodon women host league-foe Milwaukee at 5 p.m.

~ Feel The Rumble ~