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Wednesday, October 28
Muncie, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Ball State
Carl Thompson III
Photo by: Josh Gales
10/27/2026 2:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball will play its final exhibition of the 2026-27 season on Wednesday (Oct. 28) with a quick trip to Ball State for a 7 p.m. tip.
Game Day Information
Who: Ball State Cardinals
When: Wednesday, October 28 | 7 PM
Where: Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Listen: 1380 AM
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne
Know Your Foe
Ball State was 12-19 a year ago, but the Cardinals are led by first-year head coach Chris Capko for the 2026-27 season. Mason Jones is the leading returning scorer for BSU at 4.2 points per game. Twelve of the 14 Cardinals are juniors or older.
Series History
The Mastodons and Cardinals have met five times in the regular season, with Ball State owning a 4-1 edge. The Mastodons won the last regular season meeting 88-80 in the 2017 CIT. The 'Dons beat the Cardinals 84-70 in an exhibition last season.
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.
DeAndre Deep Dive
Senior DeAndre Craig averaged 14.0 points per game last season and is the second-leading returning scorer in the Horizon League, second to Wright State's C.J. O'Hara. Craig was selected to the All-Horizon League Preseason First Team for the 2026-27 season. He scored in double-figures in 25 games last season.
Going Streaking
Purdue Fort Wayne has a winning streak of at least four games in 16 of the last 17 seasons. The only exception was the 2017-18 season, which still saw the Mastodons win 18 games.
Let Coffman Cook
Jon Coffman is the all-time winningest coach in Mastodon history with 215 wins. He earned win 200 on November 15, 2025 against Boyce.
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.
Lineup Love
The Mastodons used just two unique starting lineups all of last season.
Comeback 'Dons
Purdue Fort Wayne's 16-point comeback victory vs. Cleveland State (Jan. 4, 2026) was the second largest comeback in the program's NCAA Division I era. The largest comeback victory in program history came in a win at North Dakota State (Jan. 20, 2011) when the 'Dons rallied back from 18.
Get to Know The Transfers
Purdue Fort Wayne welcomes five transfers for the 2026-27 season: Ashton Williamson (FIU), Anthony Isaac Jr. (Manhattan), DeAndre Lewis (East Mississippi CC), Tamaje Izuagbe (Oklahoma Wesleyan), Edir Ortiz (Seton Hill).
• Williamson started 25 games at FIU and averaged 7.7 points per game.
• Isaac Jr. averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 23.2 minutes per game at Manhattan.
• Lewis was a Second Team All-League honoree at EMCC.
• Izuagbe was an NAIA First Team All-American at Oklahoma Wesleyan.
• Ortiz started 21 games and shot 44.8 percent from 3-point range at Seton Hill.
Don't Forget the Freshmen!
Purdue Fort Wayne also has four true freshmen on the roster for the 2026-27 season: Carl Thompson III, Jaiden Arnold, Luke Balanis and Adam Walker.
• Thompson III was a Michigan All-State selection at Grand Rapids Christian.
• Arnold was the OHSBCA Division 3 Player of the Year at Cincinnati Aiken.
• Balanis averaged 13.0 points per game at Glenelg.
• Walker finished second in the Nike EYBL Circuit in 2025 with over 2.0 blocks per game.
NCAA Stats, Historically Speaking
The Mastodons are:
• Top 25 in the nation in 3-pointers per game in eight of the last 11 seasons
• Top 35 in the nation in points per game in eight of the last 13 seasons
• Seventh in the nation in total made 3-pointers, 11th in 3-point field goal percentage and 26th in field goal percentage since the start of the 2014-15 season.
• 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.
• Purdue Fort Wayne finished each of the last three seasons ranked in the top-10 in the nation in turnover margin: 2025-26 (3.9), 2024-25 (5.3) and in 2023-24 (5.7).
Some Notre Dame Notes
In the Mastodons' 72-69 win at Notre Dame last season, there were only four Mastodons that scored. DeAndre Craig Jr. was one of them. That the first time in the Division I era of the program that saw only four Mastodons score. It was also the Mastodons's first win over an ACC foe and fourth against a major conference team (Indiana - 2016, 2017; DePaul - 2023).
A Lot To Live Up To
Purdue Fort Wayne had the leading scorer in the Horizon League in each of the last two seasons. Corey Hadnot II averaged 20.4 points per game last season and Jalen Jackson averaged 19.2 points per game in 2024-25.
Red Coat
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, Joe Tiller, Bob Knight and John Wooden. The Red Coat Gala began in 1958.
Konchar The Hall of Famer
Former Mastodon John Konchar (2014-19) was inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame on January 31, 2026. Konchar, who played eight years in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz, finished his collegiate career with the Mastodons as the first student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's basketball history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals. He currently plays with Olympiacos B.C. in Athens, Greece.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne hosted Purdue in an exhibition contest in front of 10,141 fans, the second-most in program history.
Next Time Up
The 'Dons will open the regular season with a trip to Pittsburgh for a game at Duquesne on November 3 at 7 p.m. The Mastodons will return home for a game against Albion on November 7.
Game Day Information
Who: Ball State Cardinals
When: Wednesday, October 28 | 7 PM
Where: Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Listen: 1380 AM
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne
Know Your Foe
Ball State was 12-19 a year ago, but the Cardinals are led by first-year head coach Chris Capko for the 2026-27 season. Mason Jones is the leading returning scorer for BSU at 4.2 points per game. Twelve of the 14 Cardinals are juniors or older.
Series History
The Mastodons and Cardinals have met five times in the regular season, with Ball State owning a 4-1 edge. The Mastodons won the last regular season meeting 88-80 in the 2017 CIT. The 'Dons beat the Cardinals 84-70 in an exhibition last season.
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.
DeAndre Deep Dive
Senior DeAndre Craig averaged 14.0 points per game last season and is the second-leading returning scorer in the Horizon League, second to Wright State's C.J. O'Hara. Craig was selected to the All-Horizon League Preseason First Team for the 2026-27 season. He scored in double-figures in 25 games last season.
Going Streaking
Purdue Fort Wayne has a winning streak of at least four games in 16 of the last 17 seasons. The only exception was the 2017-18 season, which still saw the Mastodons win 18 games.
Let Coffman Cook
Jon Coffman is the all-time winningest coach in Mastodon history with 215 wins. He earned win 200 on November 15, 2025 against Boyce.
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.
Lineup Love
The Mastodons used just two unique starting lineups all of last season.
Comeback 'Dons
Purdue Fort Wayne's 16-point comeback victory vs. Cleveland State (Jan. 4, 2026) was the second largest comeback in the program's NCAA Division I era. The largest comeback victory in program history came in a win at North Dakota State (Jan. 20, 2011) when the 'Dons rallied back from 18.
Get to Know The Transfers
Purdue Fort Wayne welcomes five transfers for the 2026-27 season: Ashton Williamson (FIU), Anthony Isaac Jr. (Manhattan), DeAndre Lewis (East Mississippi CC), Tamaje Izuagbe (Oklahoma Wesleyan), Edir Ortiz (Seton Hill).
• Williamson started 25 games at FIU and averaged 7.7 points per game.
• Isaac Jr. averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 23.2 minutes per game at Manhattan.
• Lewis was a Second Team All-League honoree at EMCC.
• Izuagbe was an NAIA First Team All-American at Oklahoma Wesleyan.
• Ortiz started 21 games and shot 44.8 percent from 3-point range at Seton Hill.
Don't Forget the Freshmen!
Purdue Fort Wayne also has four true freshmen on the roster for the 2026-27 season: Carl Thompson III, Jaiden Arnold, Luke Balanis and Adam Walker.
• Thompson III was a Michigan All-State selection at Grand Rapids Christian.
• Arnold was the OHSBCA Division 3 Player of the Year at Cincinnati Aiken.
• Balanis averaged 13.0 points per game at Glenelg.
• Walker finished second in the Nike EYBL Circuit in 2025 with over 2.0 blocks per game.
NCAA Stats, Historically Speaking
The Mastodons are:
• Top 25 in the nation in 3-pointers per game in eight of the last 11 seasons
• Top 35 in the nation in points per game in eight of the last 13 seasons
• Seventh in the nation in total made 3-pointers, 11th in 3-point field goal percentage and 26th in field goal percentage since the start of the 2014-15 season.
• 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.
• Purdue Fort Wayne finished each of the last three seasons ranked in the top-10 in the nation in turnover margin: 2025-26 (3.9), 2024-25 (5.3) and in 2023-24 (5.7).
Some Notre Dame Notes
In the Mastodons' 72-69 win at Notre Dame last season, there were only four Mastodons that scored. DeAndre Craig Jr. was one of them. That the first time in the Division I era of the program that saw only four Mastodons score. It was also the Mastodons's first win over an ACC foe and fourth against a major conference team (Indiana - 2016, 2017; DePaul - 2023).
A Lot To Live Up To
Purdue Fort Wayne had the leading scorer in the Horizon League in each of the last two seasons. Corey Hadnot II averaged 20.4 points per game last season and Jalen Jackson averaged 19.2 points per game in 2024-25.
Red Coat
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, Joe Tiller, Bob Knight and John Wooden. The Red Coat Gala began in 1958.
Konchar The Hall of Famer
Former Mastodon John Konchar (2014-19) was inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame on January 31, 2026. Konchar, who played eight years in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz, finished his collegiate career with the Mastodons as the first student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's basketball history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals. He currently plays with Olympiacos B.C. in Athens, Greece.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne hosted Purdue in an exhibition contest in front of 10,141 fans, the second-most in program history.
Next Time Up
The 'Dons will open the regular season with a trip to Pittsburgh for a game at Duquesne on November 3 at 7 p.m. The Mastodons will return home for a game against Albion on November 7.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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/ Men's BasketballFriday, October 23
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