Milwaukee hosts Purdue Fort Wayne in a crucial Horizon League showdown at 3 p.m. ET Sunday at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Purdue Fort Wayne (15-8, 8-4 Horizon League) is looking to bounce back from a 68-58 home loss to Cleveland State on Thursday, a defeat that ended its impressive 11-game home winning streak.
Milwaukee (15-7, 8-3 Horizon League) enters the matchup riding a two-game winning streak after securing road victories over Wright State and Northern Kentucky last week. The Panthers have not played since their dominant 20-point win over NKU on Friday, Jan. 24.
Sunday’s contest carries significant implications for Horizon League standings, with both teams vying for position near the top. Milwaukee sits at 8-3, while Purdue Fort Wayne, Robert Morris and Youngstown State are all locked at 8-4. Cleveland State leads the conference with an 11-1 record.
The teams met earlier this season on Jan. 8 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the Mastodons edged out a 78-73 victory over the Panthers. Milwaukee will look to even the series on their home court and gain ground in the tightly contested Horizon League race.
Purdue Fort Wayne
The Mastodons boast one of the nation’s most potent offenses, ranking 22nd in scoring at 83 points per game. They are especially dangerous from beyond the arc, ranking fourth nationally in 3-pointers made per game (10.8) and 17th in 3-point shooting percentage (38.4%). Defensively, they apply relentless pressure, forcing 15.1 turnovers per game, ranking 31st in the country.
Junior guard Jalen Jackson is the Mastodons’ go-to scoring option, ranking fifth in the country with 20 points per game. Senior guard Rasheed Bello (14.3 ppg) and sophomore guard Corey Hadnot II (10.3 ppg) also average in double figures scoring.
Milwaukee
The Panthers showcase a balanced attack, averaging 79.1 points per game while allowing 70.7. They excel on the glass, ranking fifth nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15) and 14th in total rebounds (40.8). Defensively, they create pressure by forcing 13.5 turnovers per game.
The Panthers feature a balanced scoring attack, with five players averaging double figures. Senior point guard Themus Fulks leads the team with 15.1 points per game, setting the pace for Milwaukee’s offense.
Junior forward Jamichael Stillwell is a dominant force in the frontcourt, averaging 13.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. His rebounding mark ranks fifth nationally, and he also sits fifth in the country with 12 double-doubles this season.
Senior guards Kentrell Pullian (13.3 ppg), AJ McKee (11.5 ppg), and Erik Pratt (11.4 ppg) add to the Panthers’ scoring depth, giving them a well-rounded offensive attack.
