Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles at Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — Two teams trending in opposite directions will meet Wednesday when the Eastern Michigan Eagles visit the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup at Gates Sports Center.

Eastern Michigan (6-4) enters on a two-game winning streak, including an 86-48 rout of Cleary last Friday. The Eagles have shown resilience, bouncing back from a 41-point loss at Louisville on Nov. 24 with three wins in their last four outings. Their defense has been a key, holding three of their last five opponents under 60 points.

Purdue Fort Wayne (5-6) looks to build momentum after a narrow 79-77 home victory over Northern Kentucky on Saturday snapped a two-game skid. The Mastodons’ season has been marked by high-scoring affairs, averaging over 85 points per game, but they have also conceded 90 or more points in three of their six losses.

A central matchup will feature two standout players carrying the load for their respective teams. Eastern Michigan will rely on forward Godslove Nwabude, a defensive anchor who blocked five shots and scored 14 points in just 20 minutes against Cleary. Over his last six games, Nwabude has recorded multiple blocks five times.

For the Mastodons, guard Corey Hadnot has been on an offensive tear, averaging 26.2 points over his last five contests. He is coming off a 25-point, 4-assist performance against Northern Kentucky and scored a season-high 33 in a loss at Oakland on Dec. 3. Containing Hadnot will be a primary focus for the Eagles’ defense.

The Eagles have found balance; in the win over Cleary, Addison Patterson added 13 points and four assists, while Mehki Ellison contributed eight points and four assists. Purdue Fort Wayne counters with additional firepower from Mikale Stevenson, who dished out seven assists last game, and DeAndre Craig, who scored 16.

Historically, this is an infrequent meeting between the programs. Wednesday’s game represents a final nonconference tune-up before both teams dive into their league schedules later this month. Eastern Michigan begins Mid-American Conference play on Jan. 3, while Purdue Fort Wayne opens Horizon League action on Jan. 1.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday at Gates Sports Center.