Second-Half Surge Propels Boilermakers Past Mastodons in Exhibition Victory

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — In their final tuneup before facing elite national competition, the Purdue Boilermakers showcased their depth and halftime adaptability, surging away in the second half to secure a dominant 92–62 victory over the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in front of a energetic crowd.

Sluggish Start and First-Half Resiliency

The opening 20 minutes were far tighter than the final scoreline suggests. Playing in front of over 10,000 fans, the Mastodons came out with aggressive tempo and elite perimeter shooting, keeping pace with the Boilermakers step-for-step throughout much of the opening period. Behind early scoring sparks from sophomore EJ Mosley and guard DeAndre Craig Jr., Purdue Fort Wayne shot 50% from the field in the first half and stayed within striking distance.

The Boilermakers relied heavily on perimeter looks early, attempting 13 of their first 17 field goals from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Antione West provided the primary spark off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers in the opening period to finish the half with 12 points and guide Purdue to a 42–31 halftime lead.

Game Snapshot	Purdue Boilermakers	Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
Halftime Score	42	31
Final Score	92	62
Second Half Outscoring	50	31
Top Scorer	Antione West (16 pts)	EJ Mosley (16 pts)

Halftime Adjustments Pay Off

Head coach Matt Painter’s squad completely shifted the momentum coming out of the locker room. Prioritizing downhill penetration and interior balance over forced perimeter jumpers, Purdue shot an incredible 70% from the field in the second half while clamping down defensively.

Inside-Out Balance: Caden Pierce, Omer Mayer, and Daniel Jacobsen established a heavy paint presence, consistently generating high-percentage layups, cuts, and second-chance points.
Defensive Lockdown: Purdue contained Fort Wayne’s transition offense, holding the Mastodons to just 29.6% shooting in the second half.
Bench Spark: Key energy plays—highlighted by a explosive stretch from Enzo Shahrvin featuring a dunk, steal, and block—helped blow the game open on a decisive 10–2 run down the stretch.

Antione West finished as the game’s high scorer for Purdue with 16 points, while EJ Mosley led the Mastodons with 16 of his own.

Looking Ahead

With two exhibition tuneups now in the books—following a prior victory over Ball State—Purdue turns its attention to a high-profile preseason showdown against UConn. Meanwhile, Purdue Fort Wayne prepares for their second preseason matchup against Ball State on October 28.