Purdue Fort Wayne basketball strengthened its Horizon League playoff positioning with an emphatic 80-66 victory over Oakland on Friday night. Rasheed Bello dominated with 19 points and eight assists, propelling the Mastodons to their 12th conference win this season.
The Mastodons (19-10, 12-6) showcased balanced scoring with four players reaching double figures. Jalen Jackson added 14 points despite cold perimeter shooting, while Corey Hadnot II drained three three-pointers in his 11-point effort. Defensive pressure forced 14 Oakland turnovers, converting them into 18 fast-break points.
Oakland's Tuburu Naivalurua delivered a standout 23-point, seven-rebound performance, but the Golden Grizzlies (12-16, 9-8) struggled to contain Purdue Fort Wayne's backcourt penetration. Allen David Mukeba Jr. contributed 21 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort.
'This win puts us in prime position for postseason play,' said Mastodons coach Jon Coffman during the postgame press conference.
Key factors in the matchup:
- Purdue Fort Wayne's 48% field goal accuracy vs Oakland's 41%
- 22-18 advantage in points off turnovers for the Mastodons
- Oakland's 1-for-12 three-point shooting in decisive second half
Historic subplot emerged as Oakland coach Greg Kampe remains one win shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in Horizon League history. His team faces critical tests against Cleveland State and Milwaukee to close the regular season.
The Mastodons host Northern Kentucky on Thursday in a game that could determine conference tournament seeding, while Oakland aims to regroup against Cleveland State on Sunday. With three games remaining, Purdue Fort Wayne trails first-place Youngstown State by two games in the tightly contested Horizon League standings.