Mad Antics | Journal Gazette

Your chance to make D-League

Justin A. Cohn — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:40:02 EST

The D-League will hold its annual national tryouts June 15 in New York. The one-day event will see 200 hopefuls in full-court games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts.

Howard, Smith work at Development League camp

Sean Morrison — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:26:20 EST

Mad Ants guard Ron Howard and center Tommy Smith accepted invitations to the NBA Development League Elite Mini Camp, which started Monday and runs through Tuesday in Chicago.

Record year for D-League

STEVE WARDEN — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:37:06 EST

It wasn't only the Mad Ants that made 2012-13 their best season; the rest of the NBA Development League had a record-setting year, as well.

Rio Grande Valley wins title

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:43:08 EST

Rio Grande Valley defeated Santa Cruz 102-91 on Saturday to win the NBA Development League championship. It was the second time in four years that RGV has won the D-League title.

Mitchell first team All-D-League

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:44:05 EST

Add one more honor for Mad Ants guard Tony Mitchell. The 6-foot-6 rookie who earlier was named the NBA D-League's Rookie of the Year was named to the All-D-League first team.

Howard wins sportsmanship award

STEVE WARDEN — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:29:33 EST

Mad Ants guard Ron Howard was named the recipient of the Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, presented to the NBA Development League player who best represents character and conduct on and off the court.

Mitchell D-League Rookie of Year

STEVE WARDEN — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:32:24 EST

Mad Ants guard Tony Mitchell, who twice broke the team's single-game scoring record this season, was named the NBA Development League Rookie of the Year on Tuesday.

Week to evaluate

STEVE WARDEN — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:31:00 EST

The Mad Ants are flying back today (Monday) from Santa Cruz, where they were eliminated from the NBA D-League playoffs on Saturday.

Mad Ants bounced from playoffs

Journal Gazette — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

The Mad Ants were eliminated from the D-League playoffs after 110-92 to the Santa Cruz Warriors on Saturday night in Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Ticknor confident

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:34:47 EST

From across the country, across the phone lines, Mad Ants coach Duane Ticknor sounds confident.

Ants lose Game 1

STEVE WARDEN — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:52:04 EST

The Mad Ants lost the opening game of their D-League playoffs Wednesday, falling to Santa Cruz 124-118 at Memorial Coliseum.

Santa Cruz too much for Ants

STEVE WARDEN — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:27:38 EST

There really wasn't much strategy to Santa Cruz's 124-118 victory over the Mad Ants on Wednesday. Get the ball to the big guy inside.

Experience the history

Justin A. Cohn — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:31:44 EST

I put together this video piece on the Mad Ants' first ever playoff game. Even though it was a loss, I'm sure you'll enjoy it, especially if you couldn't get to the game.

Ants trail at half

STEVE WARDEN — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:31:55 EST

Although the Mad Ants are shooting 51.2 percent from the field, Santa Cruz has hit 54.2 and owns a 63-54 lead over the Ants at halftime of Wednesday's D-League playoff game at Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday.

No ice for Ants

STEVE WARDEN — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:00:46 EST

Team president Jeff Potter confirmed it before the game: Wednesday's Mad Ants-Santa Cruz playoff game will be the first time that the Ants have not played over ice.

Upon further review...

STEVE WARDEN — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:46:35 EST

So here comes Santa Cruz again, a little more than three months after its first visit to Fort Wayne.

Howard says he'll play

STEVE WARDEN — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:22:23 EST

Mad Ants point guard Ron Howard, who has been out of the lineup since March 21 when he suffered a fractured right wrist, said he will play in the Ants' playoff opener against Santa Cruz on Wednesday at Memorial Coliseum.

Ants get Santa Cruz in playoffs

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:07:04 EST

The Mad Ants will face Santa Cruz in the first round of the NBA D-League playoffs, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. home game Wednesday at Memorial Coliseum.

Mad Ants fall to Tulsa

Journal Gazette — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 22:29:08 EST

Tony Mitchell continued his one-man assault on the bucket. But this time he couldn't bail out the Mad Ants.

Ants dance to playoffs

Journal Gazette — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:30:45 EST

Tony Mitchell had a big game, scoring a career- and franchise-record 49 points Friday against Sioux Falls - but the result was even bigger for the Mad Ants.

Coach wants a title now

Journal Gazette — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:21:52 EST

Here's what Mad Ants coach Duane Ticknor had to say after his team clinched its first playoff berth tonight in Sioux Falls, S.D.

At last, Ants in playoffs

Steve Warden — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:13:34 EST

What would have been the odds that of the three teams - Indiana's Hoosiers, the Komets, and the Mad Ants, that the Ants would be the last one standing.

Mitchell having huge game

Journal Gazette — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:53:33 EST

Tony Mitchell is having a huge game -- he has 34 points -- and the Mad Ants are a quarter away from their first ever playoff berth.They lead the Sioux Falls Skyforce 95-88 after three quarters.

Down 1 at halftime

Journal Gazette — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:10:35 EST

Tony Mitchell has 16 points but the Mad Ants have a one-point deficit at halftime.They trail the Sioux Falls Skyforce 57-56, in a game that could clinch Fort Wayne it's first ever spot in the D-League playoffs.

Ants trailing early

Journal Gazette — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:52:28 EST

In a game that could get them a berth in the playoffs -- for the first time in franchise history -- the Mad Ants trail the Sioux Falls Skyforce 39-36 early in the second quarter.

Here's the situation

Justin A. Cohn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:38:15 EST

For the Mad Ants to get into the D-League playoffs for the first time, they need to either win tonight at Sioux Falls or Saturday at Tulsa.

Sioux Falls wins; Ants next

STEVE WARDEN — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:34:17 EST

Sioux Falls defeated Tulsa 97-92 on Tuesday to momentarily claim the No. 8 and final berth for the D-League playoffs.Sioux Falls (25-23) owns the tiebreaker over Maine and Erie, who also have 25-23 records.

Ants easily beat Texas

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:09:22 EST

The Mad Ants won in a breeze again.

Two games left, playoffs to go

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:58:08 EST

For the second time in three days, the Mad Ants won in a runaway.Sunday, they defeated Texas 109-85. Friday, they beat Reno, 106-86.

Ants lead Texas at half

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 17:58:38 EST

Even though Texas finished the second quarter on an 11-3 run, the Mad Ants held a 55-43 halftime lead over the Legends on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.

No Howard in Ants' regular season finale

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:21:59 EST

The Mad Ants play their regular season finale at 5 p.m. today when they face Texas at Memorial Coliseum.

Mad Ants win record 25th

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:37:52 EST

The Mad Ants set a franchise record with their 25th win of the season Friday by defeating the Reno Bighorns 106-86 at Memorial Coliseum.

25, and still counting

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:04:58 EST

The Mad Ants won their 25th game Friday, beating Reno 106-86 at Memorial Coliseum.

Ants lead Reno at half

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:35:05 EST

With .8 seconds remaining before halftime, Tony Mitchell dropped a 20-foot jumper to give the Mad Ants a 56-43 lead over Reno at Memorial Coliseum on Friday.

Howard not playing, but Russell is

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:03:49 EST

The injured right wrist of veteran guard Ron Howard will keep him out of the Mad Ants lineup tonight when they face the Reno Bighorns at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.

Mitchell honored

Justin A. Cohn — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:33:33 EST

Tony Mitchell was named D-League Co-Performer of the Week. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers' Andrew Goudelock was also honored.

Ants lose to Rio Grande Valley

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:11:49 EST

The Mad Ants lost a 19-point first-quarter lead, then lost to Rio Grande Valley 116-107 on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.

Ants played well; Rio Grande Valley played better

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:56:08 EST

Ants coach Duane Ticknor said he was disappointed that his team lost 116-107 to Rio Grande Valley on Sunday.

Lead that was 19 now 1

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:05:02 EST

The Mad Ants own a 63-62 halftime lead over Rio Grande Valley on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.

That's rgV, not RG3

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:31:18 EST

One of the better teams in the D-League invades Memorial Coliseum today when the Mad Ants face Rio Grande Valley.

Howard out Sunday

STEVE WARDEN — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:38:21 EST

The Mad Ants will be without point guard Ron Howard for the second consecutive game when the Ants play Central Division-leading Rio Grande Valley on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.Ants coach Duane Ticknor confirmed Howard's absence following a brief practice on Saturday.

Mad Ants win in 3 OTs

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:48:55 EST

Tony Mitchell set a Mad Ants one-game scoring record with 47 points, including the go-ahead basket with 5.2 seconds remaining to lead the Mad Ants to a 106-104 triple-overtime victory over Austin on Friday at Memorial Coliseum.

Ants trail Austin by two

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:33:03 EST

The Mad Ants trail Austin 47-45 at half in Friday's D-League game at Memorial Coliseum.Fort Wayne is without second-leading scorer Ron Howard, who injured his wrist in Thursday's win.

Howard out tonight

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:59:45 EST

Mad Ants point guard and second-leading scorer Ron Howard is out of action for tonight's game against Austin.

Porter at shoot around

STEVE WARDEN — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:22:59 EST

It was a brief, 15-minute walk-through at the Mad Ants' shoot around at Memorial Coliseum today in preparation for tonight's game against Austin.

Ants take third

STEVE WARDEN — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:05:04 EST

The Mad Ants took over third place in the D-League East Division with a 107-93 victory over Maine on Thursday at Memorial Coliseum.

Big win over Maine

STEVE WARDEN — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:18:17 EST

The Mad Ants had three double-doubles in their 107-93 victory over Maine on Thursday at Memorial Coliseum.

Ants lead at half

STEVE WARDEN — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:20:19 EST

Despite 13 turnovers, the Mad Ants own a 55-48 halftime lead over Maine on Thursday at Memorial Coliseum.Tony Mitchell leads the team with 13 points, while Brandon Wallace has 11 and Ron Howard has 10.

Ants can pass Maine

STEVE WARDEN — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:57:56 EST

A win by the Mad Ants over Maine on Thursday would sent the Ants ahead of the RedClaws in the D-League East Division standings.The Ants come in with a 21-21 record, and Maine, after Wednesday's loss in Canton, is 23-22.

Ants lose at Springfield

STEVE WARDEN — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:52:53 EST

The Mad Ants shot 33.7 percent from the floor in a 107-80 loss at Springfield on Sunday.

Ants close to playoff berth

STEVE WARDEN — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:32:03 EST

OK, so we had to wait for Saturday's games to become final to shake down the Ants' playoff hopes going into Sunday afternoon's game at Springfield.

Mad Ants beat Springfield

Journal Gazette — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:45:37 EST

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants continue to chase the first playoff berth in their history. The Ants (21-20) moved above .500 and stayed hot on Erie’s heels for the last playoff spot with a 121-106 victory Friday night over the Armor at Springfield, Mass.

Ants back to .500, back in playoff picture

STEVE WARDEN — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:40:01 EST

With a 105-90 victory at Maine on Thursday, the Mad Ants climbed back to .500 and tied the Red Claws for third place in the NBA D- League's East Division.

Ants acquire veteran forward

The Journal Gazette — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:12:58 EST

The Mad Ants announced they have acquired veteran forward Terrance Thomas and released guard Darryl Partin. Thomas will be joining the team and playing Thursday against the Maine Red Claws.

Partin waived

STEVE WARDEN — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:53:45 EST

Darryl Partin, the 6-foot-5 guard who started in 16 of the 33 games played, has been waived by the Mad Ants.