RICHMOND, Ind. –

This is the second-straight week that Bright has earned recognition, after being named to the Jimmy Johns’ All-Classic Team a week ago for his performance at Purdue Calumet’s own Tip-Off Classic.

The Fort Wayne, Ind. native averaged 17 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Peregrines’ two contests on the weekend, including his 28-point, 10-board breakout performance against No. 10 Indiana Southeast. He is averaging a double-double on the season with 16 points and a CCAC-best 10.3 caroms per contest.

The Black and Gold will take a week off, before hosting CCAC Div. I foe Indiana University South Bend on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team’s upset bid fell just short on Saturday afternoon, as the Peregrines fell to nationally-ranked Indiana University Southeast, 106-95. The Black and Gold scored a season-high 50 points in the second half, but that would not be enough as the team fell to 0-4 on the year.

The Peregrines were hurt by their own mistakes, committing a season-high 33 turnovers which the Grenadiers were able to convert into 48 points. Purdue Calumet did have success shooting the ball, knocking down a season-best 44.9 percent of its shots from the field.

Kameron Bright continued on his recent tear, scoring a career-high 28 points while pulling 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season. The freshman center is averaging 16 points and just over 10 rebounds per game in his initial campaign with the Peregrines.

Neal Hudson once again had a strong performance from the charity stripe, tallying 17 points on the afternoon. Aaron Evans and Mark Sutter also reached double-figures for Purdue Calumet, finishing the contest with 12 points apiece.

The Peregrines will see action again on Tuesday, Nov. 24, when they host IU South Bend for a 7 p.m. CST tip-off.

RICHMOND, Ind. – Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team had its first victory of the season ripped from its grasps, as Indiana East closed the game on a 29-12 run to pull out a 101-84 win. The Peregrines’ heart-wrenching loss is their second in as many games, as the team falls to 0-3 on the year.

Neal Hudson had a monster game for the Black and Gold, going 12-for-12 from the charity stripe on his way to a game-high 28 points. Jordan Champion knocked down four of the Peregrines’ eight trifectas on his way to a 12-point effort, while fellow frosh Aaron Evans and Kedric Williams also reached double-figures with 14 and 10 points respectively.

Purdue Calumet will turn right around with a game tomorrow afternoon against nationally-ranked Indiana Southeast. The Peregrines will look to secure their first victory of the season against the No. 10 Grenadiers, when the two teams tip-off at 2 p.m. CST.

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The age old saying that games are won and lost at the free throw proved to be right on the spot and much to the dismay of the Purdue Calumet faithful, as Indiana Northwest was able parlay a huge advantage from the charity stripe into a come-from-behind victory. The Redhawks attempted 20 more free throws than the Peregrines, a statistic that proved crucial in their one-point victory.

Despite such a disparity in the number of attempts from the line, the Black and Gold still had its chances to record the win. After shooting just 32.8 percent in a season-opening loss to nationally-ranked Indiana Wesleyan, head coach Dan Voudrie’s young squad started the game shooting a red-hot 45.5 percent from the field in the first half, largely due to their 28 points in the paint with 13 of those coming from the second chance variety. Leading by as many as 15 in the period, the Peregrines went into the locker room with a 48-37 advantage.

Purdue Calumet continued to push the issue in the second half, as Kedric Williams’ jumper with 13 minutes left gave the Peregrines their biggest lead of the game, 66-46. However, IU Northwest mounted a devastating comeback, using a 26-7 spurt over a six minute stretch to take its first lead, 87-84, since the first nine minutes of the first half.

The Peregrines would go on to score the next four points to regain the lead, as Kameron Bright’s pair of free throws and Bo Ray’s steal and breakaway layup put the Black and Gold out in front with 15 ticks remaining. However, Jesse Howell would spoil the day for Purdue Calumet, hitting what turned out to be the winning bucket with seven seconds left.

The Peregrines owned the boards in the contest, tallying a 15-rebound advantage with an impressive 20 offensive rebounds on the day. Bright led the team with 14 rebounds to go along with his 16 points, as the freshman recorded his first collegiate double-double.

Purdue Calumet used a balanced scoring attack to stay in the game, as five players reached double-figures in the contest. Neal Hudson finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jordan Champion knocked down four of Purdue Calumet’s 10 treys on his way to a 12-point effort. Antonio McNeal and Kedric Williams also reach double-digits scoring 11 points apiece.

For his efforts, Bright was named to the Jimmy Johns All-Classic Team, averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game in Purdue Calumet’s two contests this weekend.

The Peregrines will return to action next weekend, Nov. 13-14, as they compete in the IU/PU Challenge in Richmond, Ind. They will face Indiana East on Friday night at 8 p.m. CST, before taking on Indiana Southeast at 2 p.m. CST on Saturday.

HAMMOND, Ind. –

IWU wasted no time gaining control of the game, grabbing a 28-6 advantage after the first nine minutes of the contest. The Wildcats would continue to stretch their lead over the remainder of the half, heading into the break with a 53-20 advantage.

The second half proved to be a different story, as Purdue Calumet’s young team came to life with 35 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in the final stanza. Freshman Kameron Bright (Fort Wayne, Ind./Wayne) led the charge for the Peregrines, scoring all of his team-high 14 points in the period.

Fellow frosh Mark Sutter (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) dropped in a eight points and a team-high eight boards, while Neal Hudson (Gary, Ind./Hobart) finished with nine points and four caroms.

The Tip-Off Classic will resume play tomorrow, Nov. 7, as tonight’s victors Indiana Wesleyan and East-West face off at noon. Purdue Calumet and Indiana Northwest will take on each other in the classic’s finale at 4 p.m., following the completion of Peregrines’ women’s contest against Spring Arbor at 2 p.m.

Purdue Calumet’s Homecoming festivities will be going on throughout the closing day of action, including the Peregrines’ Hall of Fame ceremony at halftime of the Purdue Calumet and Indiana Northwest game. The Black and Gold’s 2009-10 class of inductees Ed Blackmon, Lee Ann DeYoung, Bob Hayes, Larry Liddle and Rod Weingart will have their Purdue Calumet Hall of Fame banners unveiled during the ceremony.

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Indiana Northwest and East West play in the classic’s opening game on Friday evening at 5 p.m. in a contest that figures to be a high-scoring affair.

Purdue Calumet kicks off its 2009-10 season in Friday’s nightcap at 7 p.m., when it takes on Mid-Central Conference power Indiana Wesleyan. Most of the Peregrines’ youth-laden roster will get their first taste of collegiate basketball, as head coach Dan Voudrie will have 11 players making their Purdue Calumet debut.

Saturday expects to be an exciting day, as the Tip-Off Classic will wrap up play during Purdue Calumet’s homecoming festivities. East West and Indiana Wesleyan will meet up in the day’s opening contest at noon, before the Peregrines’ women’s basketball team joins the fun with a game against Spring Arbor at 2 p.m.

Cross-town rivals Indiana Northwest and Purdue Calumet will battle for bragging rights in the classic’s final game, which is expected to start at 4 p.m.

Single-day passes can be purchased at the gate. Admission will be five dollars for adults and three dollars for all individuals under the age of 18. All Purdue Calumet students will be admitted free of charge with their student ID.

Tip-Off Classic Homepage

HAMMOND, Ind. –

Antonio McNeal, the team’s lone senior, comes back for his final campaign as one of the squad’s top scoring threats, after averaging just over 15 points per game in PUC’s final ten contests last season. The Hammond, Ind. native’s leadership will be invaluable for a team that should see 12 players make their Purdue Calumet debut.

McNeal will be joined in the starting lineup by athletic forward Michael Patton. Patton has established himself as one of the top rebounders in the CCAC, and after adding 20 pounds to his frame over the summer should improve upon his near double-double numbers of 8.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game from a year ago.

Rob Williams also returns, after averaging 8.4 points per game with 80 assists. The success of Williams, who can play either guard position, will be helped by the arrival of point guard Aaron Evans, which will allow the junior to get more minutes at his natural position, shooting guard.

Despite several key components returning, Purdue Calumet’s success will most likely hinge on the play of its newcomers. Evans, Neal Hudson and Eric Summers headline a promising recruiting class that will bolster the Peregrine’s lineup with both ability and athleticism.

Evans is the probable starter at the point, as the savvy floor general’s high basketball IQ and ability to distribute the ball should help him make an immediate impact for Purdue Calumet. Evans will be joined in the starting lineup by fellow frosh Summers, who not only gives the team a scoring threat in the low post with his 6-foot-8 frame, but also provides some flair with his impressive passing abilities. Hudson, a junior forward, enters the season as one’s of the team’s most accomplished players on the roster, after a highly decorated two-year stint at national power Joliet Junior College.

Voudrie will have a number of options off the bench, as he will be able plug in players with a wide variety of skills. Jordan Champion and Kedric Williams give PUC intensity off the bench with each having the ability to put points on the board. Mark Sutter gives Voudrie a hard-nosed athlete that can play a number of positions, while Kameron Bright and Brant Stockamp should provide the Peregrines with a strong rebounding presence. Bo Ray, Joel Gotshall and Will Schenkel round out the Peregrines’ group of newcomers.

Purdue Calumet will be tested early and often this season, as the team will play nine games against opponents that received votes in the NAIA’s 2008-09 final poll. The Peregrines will open the 2009-10 campaign at their own Tip-Off Classic when they face nationally-ranked Indiana Wesleyan, before closing out the classic against IU Northwest during Homecoming festivities.

In his senior season, Summers averaged 14.5 points hitting 59.3 percent from the field, grabbed 9.1 rebounds and

Eric Summers signs contract after a workout.

dished out 4.5 assists per game. He led Lake Central in scoring and rebounding in his junior and senior seasons and started on the varsity all four years. Summers was a First Team All-Area player, the NWI Times Region Rumble Player of the Game last season and a two-year captain.

Summers’ size and basketball skills will be a significant factor helping the Peregrines in a rebuilding season, according to Voudrie.

“We are excited to have another young man of such high quality character and talent join the PUC basketball family,” Voudrie said. “The addition of Eric Summers to our basketball program greatly accelrates the process of building a championship program at Purdue Calumet.

“He is an outstanding capstone to the previously strong foundation of this recruiting class.”

At the free throw line, Champion hit 77.6 percent finishing in the top ten in the conference. He earned a spot on the all conference second team, was the most valuable player of the Cass County Tournament, and also played in the Hoosier Select All-Star Classic.

Champion’s addition to the roster gives Peregrine Head Coach Dan Voudrie more depth and scoring off the bench.

“We’re really excited to have Jordan Champion join our program with his solid athletic background,” Voudrie said. “Having played at a high level during high school, the transition to the college game will be a quick and successful one.

“Like our previous recruits Jordan’s commitment in the classroom is at an extraordinary level.”