Boilermakers Carve Up Huskers 104-68

Boilers Carve Up Huskers 104-68

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports, USBWA

photos by: Greg Flint, Excel H Sports, Flint Photography

The Excel H Sports (#17) Purdue Boilermakers carved up the Nebraska Cornhuskers (#24 Excel H Sports) in front of a packed Mackey Arena on Sunday, January 12th, 2025, 104 to 68.

The game started with a heavy dose of Silver Creek High School graduate Trey Kaufman-Renn.

Kaufman-Renn had already reached the double-digit scoring mark early in the first half.

Many of those points came from the hands of Braden Smith, who would post 14 assists on the day for the Boilers.

Then the Boilers attacked from outside behind Fletcher Loyer and freshman C. J. Cox.

Cox connected on his first eight shots from the field, including a four of four effort behind the three-point arc.

Purdue connected on 41 of 65 field goal attempts for a sizzling 63% percent accuracy.

The Boilers also connected on 19 of 33 three-point attempts for 57.6% percent.

One of the more intriguing stats from the game was the Boilers handed out 32 assists of their 41 baskets.

C. J. Cox led the way with 23 points on nine of eleven from the field, that included five of seven behind the arc.

Fletcher Loyer added 19 on seven of twelve shooting that included a five of six effort from long distance.

Trey Kaufman-Renn added 15 points and seven rebounds.

Braden Smith scored eight points but handed out a staggering 14 assists before hitting the bench with seven minutes left in the game.

Myles Colvin came off the Boiler bench to post 14 points on five of nine shooting and four of eight daggers from behind the arc.

Central Noble graduate and Wisconsin transfer, Conner Essegian led the Huskers with 17 points on six of thirteen from the floor and collected five rebounds.

Juwan Gary was held to 10 points and Brice Williams to nine.

Purdue moves to five and one in the B1G and 13 and 4 over-all while Nebraska drops to 12 and 4 over-all and two and three in the B1G.

The following is courtesy of Purdue University Athletics

• Purdue improved to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten standings with a 104-68 win over Nebraska in Mackey Arena. The win was Purdue’s fifth straight victory overall and in Big Ten play after starting league play 0-1.
• Purdue has won four straight Big Ten games by at least 18 points for the first time in school history (81-61 vs. Minnesota; 79-61 vs. Northwestern; 68-50 vs. Rutgers; 104-68 vs. Nebraska).
• Purdue is 5-1 in Big Ten play for the fifth time under Matt Painter (2025, 2023, 2018, 2011, 2009). Ironically, Purdue has only won the Big Ten regular-season title once when starting 5-1 or better (2023).
• The win was Purdue’s 26^th in a row in Mackey Arena, now tied for the second-longest home winning streak in school history. The Boilermakers have won 14 straight home games against Big Ten teams.
• Purdue is now 20-2 in the month of January since the start of the 2022-23 season, having won 10 straight games in the month.
• Purdue’s 32 assists were the fifth most in school history and the most since the school-record 37 set against LIU Brooklyn on Nov. 14, 1997. The 32 assists are the most for Purdue in a Big Ten game and equal the most for a Big Ten team since Northwestern against Rutgers on Feb. 27, 2016.
• Purdue’s 19 made 3-pointers were the second most in school history behind the 20 made against Iowa on Jan. 20, 2018.
• Purdue’s 63.1 field goal percentage was its second-highest mark of the Matt Painter era behind 64.3 percent against Auburn on Nov. 23, 2016. The Boilermakers shot over 60.0 percent in both halves for the first time since Feb. 5, 2020, vs. Iowa.
• Purdue’s 104 points were the most in regulation in Big Ten play since scoring 104 against Iowa on Feb. 5, 2020. It marked the third 100-point game in Big Ten play during the Matt Painter era (107 vs. Rutgers on Jan. 18, 2016).
• Purdue scored 1.53 points / possession against Nebraska, the third-highest total in school history. Nebraska entered the game ranked 14^th nationally in defensive efficiency.
• The 36-point victory matched the second-largest margin of victory in Big Ten play during the Matt Painter era (107-57 vs. Rutgers; Jan. 18, 2016).
• Purdue is now 10-0 against Nebraska in Mackey Arena, including 9-0 under Matt Painter. Just one of the games have been decided by single-digits.
• Purdue held Brice Williams to nine points on 2-of-8 shooting with four turnovers. Williams entered the game third in the Big Ten in scoring. It marks the third straight game that Purdue has held 19-point scorers well under their scoring average (Brooks Barnhizer, Nick Martinelli, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Brice Williams).
• Braden Smith surpassed 600 career assists, coming in his 91^st career game, now with 602 assists. He became the second player in NCAA history with 1,000 points, 600 assists and 450 rebounds in his first three years (Ohio’s D.J. Cooper, 2010-12).
• Over the last five games, Smith is averaging 20.0 points and 11.4 assists per game.
• Freshman C.J. Cox scored a career-high 23 points (9-of-11 FGs, 5-of-7 3Ps) with four rebounds, four steals and two assists.
• Fletcher Loyer scored 19 points, going 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn tallied 15 points with six rebounds and a career-high seven assists against no turnovers.