Mastodons' win streak snapped in 74-65 loss to Oakland

Purdue Fort Wayne falls to third place in Horizon League standings after defeat

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:31pm

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In a battle for second place in the Horizon League, Purdue Fort Wayne folded in crunch time against Oakland, losing 74-65 and snapping a five-game winning streak. The loss drops the Mastodons to third place in the conference standings, with Oakland completing a regular season sweep and earning a head-to-head tiebreaker for conference tournament seeding.

Why it matters

This game was a crucial matchup between two of the top teams in the Horizon League, with significant implications for conference tournament seeding. Purdue Fort Wayne's loss puts them in a more precarious position in the standings, while Oakland strengthens its hold on second place.

The details

Purdue Fort Wayne got off to a hot start, hitting six 3-pointers in the first eight minutes, but struggled to defend Oakland inside. The Golden Grizzlies took a 40-38 lead to halftime. The second half was a defensive struggle, with the game tied at 56-56 with 8:12 to go. However, Oakland closed the game on an 18-9 run, including a 12-2 burst after the final media timeout.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.
  • Purdue Fort Wayne's five-game winning streak was snapped with this loss.

The players

Corey Hadnot

Led the Mastodons with 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range.

Max Nelson

Finished with 15 points, all of those coming on 3-pointers for the Mastodons.

Deandre Craig Jr.

Scored 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Purdue Fort Wayne.

Oakland Golden Grizzlies

Defeated Purdue Fort Wayne and completed a regular season sweep, earning a head-to-head tiebreaker for conference tournament seeding.

Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons

Fell to third place in the Horizon League standings with the loss, snapping a five-game winning streak.

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What’s next

Purdue Fort Wayne will look to bounce back when they host Robert Morris at Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for Purdue Fort Wayne's conference title aspirations, as they now find themselves in third place in the Horizon League standings. However, the Mastodons will have a chance to regain ground when they host Robert Morris this weekend.