Mastodon MBB Returns Home to Play Albion - Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball will play its regular season home opener on Saturday (Nov. 7) against Albion at 7 p.m.

Game Day Information
Who: Albion Britons
When: Saturday, November 7 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1380 AM
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne

Know Your Foe
Albion is coming off a 14-12 season with a 7-7 mark in MIAA play. The Britons lost their top two scorers from a year ago, with Kurtis Rhodes (10.2 ppg) returning to lead the team. Head coach Jody May has been on the Albion staff since 1997 and the head coach since 2008, reaching 200 victories in the 2023-24 season.

Series History
Albion and Purdue Fort Wayne have met three times before, all coming prior to the George H. W. Bush administration. The 'Dons lead 2-1, with a pair of wins over the Britons in 1984 after losing the first game in 1979, when the Mastodons were members of NCAA Division III.

3-Point Threats
Purdue Fort Wayne shot 50 percent from 3-point range (13-of-26) in the season opener. On the young season, that 50 percent mark is good for 12th in the country.

Maj Barrage
Tamaje Izuagbe is 4-for-5 from 3-point range this season for 80 percent. That is a top-15 clip nationally.

No Place Like Home
The 'Dons have won 28 consecutive regular season home games against non-league opponents, a streak that started on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Stetson. The Mastodons have recorded double-digit wins at home in 12 of the last 14 years, including last season.

Cardinal Crushers
Purdue Fort Wayne beat Ball State 78-70 in an exhibition contest on October 28 behind a game-high 22 points from DeAndre Craig Jr. Ashton Williamson (16), Anthony Isaac Jr. (15) and Edir Ortiz (10) also pitched in double-digit scoring performances.

Hello, Fort Wayne!
For the Mastodons' exhibition game against Purdue on October 22, there was an announced crowd of 10,141, the second-most for the Purdue Fort Wayne event in program history. The most was the 11,076 that came to the Mastodons' 71-68 overtime win over No. 3 Indiana in 2016.

Last Time Out
The Mastodons fell to Duquesne 78-71 in Pittsburgh. The 'Dons erased a 14-point first-half deficit by halftime, but the Dukes pulled away late. DeAndre Craig Jr. had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists in that game.

Next Time Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will welcome Western Michigan on November 12 for a game at the Memorial Coliseum.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Next Event

Players Mentioned

DeAndre Craig Jr.

Anthony Isaac Jr.

Tamaje Izuagbe

Edir Ortiz

Ashton Williamson