Fort Wayne, IN – The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (18-8, 11-4 Horizon League) took care of business in their fourth game in ten days by defeating the Green Bay Phoenix (2-23, 0-14 Horizon League) by a score of 89-74 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night. The Mastodons, a team that’s been plagued by the “comeback bug” this season, kept their foot on the gas not allowing the Green Bay team to mount a comeback and make the game close down the stretch.
First Half: Jalen Jackson got his league leading scoring (20.1 PPG) started early in a familiar spot for Jackson. Jackson hit the running floater over a 7-inch taller Yonatan Levy. The Mastodons continued their defensive dominance as well. Coach Jon Coffman’s team caused havoc early and often in this game. An early turnover by the Phoenix ended in a Rasheed Bello bucket on the other end. This Bello bucket caused head coach Doug Gottlieb to burn a timeout 40 seconds into the game. He had a short message for his team, and the family-friendly version was to “Wake Up.”
Senior Ryan Wade received Gottlieb’s message loud and clear going for three straight three-point baskets giving him an early 9 points. These would be the only 9 points for Wade in the first half. The Mastodons caught a break when Green Bay’s switch man defense resulted in Eric Mulder being guarded by Ryan Wade in the post – points Mulder.
A steal and fast break layup by Jalen Jackson put the ‘Dons back on top 10-9. The ‘Dons had to keep the defense up to take the air from under the Phoenix’s wings and thwart any chance of them making a run. After the media timeout, the Mastodons were able to force Green Bay into a shot clock violation – 30 seconds of gritty defense.
The Phoenix were able to retake an 18-15 lead with a three-point shot from Yonatan that hit the square of the backboard hard but ultimately found its way through. Jalen Jackson was able to respond with an old fashioned three-point play by driving to the hoop and making the layup through the contact. Jackson hit the free throw on the other side of the media timeout to knot it up 18-18.
After the free throw, Jackson showed off his athleticism with a volleyball-esque swat on Ben Tweedy that would make new PFW Men’s Volleyball Coach Donny Gleason proud. The Phoenix would retain possession, and Tweedy would try again then only to be fouled. He would make both free throws. The ‘Dons and Phoenix would trade buckets back and forth from this point until a Quinton Morton-Robinson three-pointer would put the Mastodons up 33-25 and force Green Bay into a timeout. A Corey Hadnot II bucket and Rasheed Bello’s first three-pointer would cap an 22-7 run for the Mastodons putting them ahead by a score of 42-29 when the whistle sounded for the under 4-minute media timeout.
Purdue Fort Wayne would continue to keep Green Bay at bay with the likes of a Jalen Jackson and Corey Hadnot II jumper and three made free throws from the ‘Dons. Eric Mulder would continue to fight for rebounds as Eric Mulder does. Eric Mulder would set a flare screen for one of the best three-point shooters in the country in Corey Hadnot II, and it was pure net. However, before the shot went in, Eric Mulder was leveled by Green Bay’s Marcus Hall fighting through the screen trying to get out to Hadnot.
Mulder would get two free throws and make both free throws for the elusive 5-point possession. Green Bay would get the ball with a .5 difference between game clock and shot clock only for Roee Oselka to get called for the illegal moving screen before the three-point shot went up for the Phoenix. (Yes, the shot did go in too…). Green Bay’s head coach was extremely unhappy after this call, especially because he believed that Mulder was moving during his screen that gave him the two free throws. The Mastodons would head into the halftime break leading Green Bay by 15, with a score of 50-35.
Second Half: The second half started the same way the first half started – Jalen Jackson in the lane for two. The Phoenix seemed to get a little juice and make a little run of their own. Jerimiah Johnson and Marcus Hall would muster up a 6-0, but the run was stopped by a Quinton Morton-Robinson three-pointer and an Eric Mulder dunk off a very hard earned offensive rebound. Chandler Cuthrell wanted to improve his dunk contest score from the first half slam– following up Mulder’s slam with a hammer of his own via a Corey Hadnot II assist.
The Phoenix wouldn’t go away just yet. Scrappy defense from Green Bay stopped what would have been a thundering alley-oop slam from Jackson to Mulder. Instead the Phoenix took the ball the length of the court for a Jeremaih Johnson bucket at the rim. A Marcus Hall turn around jumper in the lane over Eric Mulder would bring the deficit to 11 for the Phoenix, but Trey Lewis would respond right away with a pull up basket of his own on the other end. Another Marcus Hall basket and free throw would bring the score to 62-52 in favor of the Mastodons.
A Jalen Jackson jumper, a Rasheed Bello three-point, and an Eric Mulder bucket down low over Green Bay’s struggling post defense would result in a 7-0 run and force Doug Gottlieb to call yet another timeout to attempt to curtail the Mastodon momentum. Ben Tweedy would respond for Green Bay after the timeout with a post move. Then – Green Bay’s inexperience and immaturity started to really show. With 9:10 left in the game, Green Bay’s leading scorer, Marcus Hall, would commit an offensive foul to pick up his 5th personal foul and foul out of the game. 19 seconds later, Mac Wrecke would also pick up his 5th personal foul of the game, sending him to the bench for the night as well.
The Mastodons continued to look like the Mastodons that got them their 18 wins this season. Bello hit a drive to the left, step back jumper. Maximus Nelson hit a corner three. Jalen Jackson drove to the lane and got fouled to earn free throws. Eric Mulder fought for rebounds all night, and even got an offensive rebound over while surrounded by four Green Bay players for another Mastodon possession. The frustration for the Phoenix spilled over when Mulder continued to fight for rebounds only to be blind sided and knocked to the ground by Roee Oselka. Oselka was assessed a flagrant foul for this play, and Mulder knocked down 1 of 2 free throws.
The energy could have completely deflated from the Green Bay players and bench when Rasheed Bello came down the floor and drilled a right-wing three-pointer and held his follow-through for what felt like 30 seconds. This basket would put the ‘Dons up 82-64. Credit to the Phoenix because they continued to fight for the whole 40 minutes. Foster Wonder hit a three-point basket, and Jeremiah Johnson hit a tough up and under layup with contact. Johnson would hit the free throw for his 16th point of the night. After the media timeout, Johnson would hit a left corner three for points 17, 18, and 19.
Jalen Jackson did his best to put this game on ice. As he’s done so many times in the past, Jackson drove to the hoop and drew contact for two free throws – he would make both. The ‘Dons would also use a very effective two guard press breaker to find Eric Mulder wide open up the rim for a two-handed slam. Two Corey Hadnot II free throws would be the final points for the ‘Dons. The Mastodons would send Green Bay home with a score of 89-74.
Stats and Leaders: Green Bay was led in scoring by a valiant effort from Johnson with 20 PTS to go with 7 REB. Hall added 13 PTS, 3 REB, and 3 AST before fouling out. Midseason addition Yonatan Levy only added 3PTS, but contributed in other ways with 7 REB and 5 AST. Ben Tweedy had a big game in 20 minutes off the bench for the Phoenix – 11 PTS and 8 REB.
For Purdue Fort Wayne, it’s starting to become predictable. The Mastodons were led in scoring by Bello with 25 PTS, followed by Jackson with 22 PTS. This was the third straight game Bello has led the Mastodons in scoring followed by Jackson only a shot behind him. Eric Mulder was the only other ‘Don in double figures. Cuthrell and Morton-Robinson each added 7 PTS.
Mulder recorded his third double-double of the season and first since returning from injury. Mulder continued his dominance on the glass grabbing 11 REB (3 OREB, 8 DREB) to add to his double digit points. When head coach Jon Coffman was asked about what the team learned from Mulder’s absence, he said that the team had some players step up and really blossom into a role that gives Coffman some lineup freedom. Though Coffman said he “doesn’t like to take Eric off the floor” he now can knowing that Cuthrell and Deangelo Elisee can hold their own down low. Cuthrell added 9 REB (2 OREB, 7 DREB) of his own. The next highest rebounder for the ‘Dons was the shortest player on the court – Morton-Robinson with 4 REB.
What’s Next: Green Bay will return home to face the Northern Kentucky Norse on February 14. Northern Kentucky is coming off a loss to Robert Morris, however NKU can play with the best of them. The Norse snapped the first place Cleveland State’s win streak earlier this week. The GB/NKU game is set to tip at 7:00pm ET on ESPN+.
Purdue Fort Wayne will travel to Youngstown State on February 12. The game could have some serious implications on Horizon League tournament seeding as the Penguins sit just a half game behind the Mastodons, tied with Robert Morris. The Mastodons are currently in second place, two games behind first place Cleveland State. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30pm ET, and it will be broadcast on ESPN+.
