FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's basketball team returns to the court on Monday as they face off with crosstown rival and fourth ranked Saint Francis in an early season battle that will be a measuring stick for the Warriors.
 
Indiana Tech (2-0)
 
Monday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. at No. 4 University of Saint Francis (1-2) – Fort Wayne, Indiana (Hutzell Athletic Center)
 
Following the Warriors: Links to live stats and video can be found at www.IndianaTechWarriors.com. You can also follow the action on Twitter by following @INTechMBB and @INTechWarriors.
 
Last Time Out: Tech defeated Roosevelt, 96-66, last Wednesday evening in Chicago before falling to NCAA Division I Ohio, 73-57, in an exhibition. In the win over the Lakers, Dominique Walls led the Warriors with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Jantzen Goodwin scored 15 points and dished out six assists, while Lavonte Davis contributed seven points, five rebounds and four blocks.
 
Head Coach John Peckinpaugh: Now in his second season at the helm for the Orange and Black, as well as his second stint with the program, head coach John Peckinpaugh went 11-19 in his first season as the head man for the Warriors. Peckinpaugh returned to Indiana Tech after serving as an assistant for the Warriors during the 2012-2013 season, where he served as the recruiting coordinator He was instrumental in recruiting all of the returning Tech players for the 2014-2015 season during this time. In between stints with Tech, the Muncie, Indiana, native served as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW) during the 2013-14 year. While with the Mastodons, he was part of a coaching staff that helped the team achieve the most successful season in program history with a 25-11 record and being ranked No. 19 in the NCAA Division I Mid-Major poll. IPFW made it all the way to the Summit League Tournament Championship game, losing to North Dakota State, who would go on to upset fifth-seeded Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Mastodons would make the postseason for the first-time ever as a Division I program that season as well when they hosted Akron in the College Insider.com Tournament, defeating the Zips, 97-91.
 
Scouting the Opposition: Saint Francis – The fourth ranked Cougars are 1-2 on the season, most recently losing to No.1 and WHAC foe Cornerstone on Friday, 61-50. Kegan Comer leads the team with 11.0 points per game, while Bryce Lienhoop is averaging a double-double (10.6 ppg and 11.3 rpg) through three games.
 
Series History: Saint Francis – Tech is 3-7 against their crosstown rivals since 2005, most recently losing 79-59 a season ago as they dropped their third in a row. The Warriors last victory came back in 2011, when the Orange and Black topped the Cougars 66-64.
 
Making a Good First Impression: Transfers Dominique Walls and Jantzen Goodwin each made an immediate impact in their first two games for the Warriors. Walls led Tech with 24 points on 10-12 shooting while also pulling down 10 rebounds in the 91-79 win over Wilberforce last Friday night. He also had two blocks and recorded a steal. Goodwin also hit double-digits in scoring in his tech debut with 11 points while dishing out a game-high six assists, recording five rebounds and leading the team in steals with three. Against Roosevelt, the duo combined for 32 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks.
 
Block Party: Junior Lavonte Davis has been a welcome sight to the Orange and Black this season after struggling with injuries in his first year with Tech last year. The Ypsilanti, Michigan native has six blocks through the first two games, tied for 13^th most in the nation while his three blocks a game ranks in a tie for fourth.
 
Lots of New Faces: While the Warriors return eight players from last year's team, that didn't stop Peckinpaugh from hitting the recruiting trail hard. He added five freshman and four transfers to the mix to go along with an upper-classmen laden team. Junior Jantzen Goodwin (Vincennes University), senior Jaelen Manson (Vincennes University) and senior Dominique Walls (Ashford) will all look to make an immediate impact for Tech, while junior Edmond Early, Jr. (Owens Community College) will redshirt this season.
 
In the Trees: Tech has seven players who stand 6'5" or taller, including five that are 6'7" or taller. Starting forward Lavonte Davis (6'8") will be a matchup problem for opposing teams, while junior center Laurence Mifsud (7'0"), senior forward Milos Milidragovic (6'11"), sophomore forward Scott Schwieterman (6'7") and freshman forward JeQuante Davis (6'8") give the Warriors plenty of depth in the paint.
 
Tough Sledding: The Warriors will face off with six teams that were ranked in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Topping the list is three teams within the conference, including defending champion and preseason No. 1 Cornerstone. Davenport comes in at No. 3, while Northwestern Ohio sits at No. 17. Crosstown rival Saint Francis is fourth in the inaugural rankings and the two meet up at Hutzell Athletic Center on Nov. 9. The Orange and Black will also square off on the road with No. 10 IU East and No. 14 Grace on Nov. 24 and Dec. 30, respectively.