SCARLET KNIGHTS DO IT AGAIN, TO PURDUE

SCARLET KNIGHTS DO IT AGAIN, TO PURDUE

Mulchay Clutch Down the Strech

By Shawn Martin/ExcelHSports

Photos by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

DRUM BEAT ~ PURDUE BASKETBALL

Rutgers 65
Purdue 64

Photo by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have become the kryptonite to the Purdue Men’s Basketball team – especially when the Boilermakers are ranked #1 in the country.

December 9, 2021, Purdue had been ranked #1 in the polls for the first time in their history. The Boilers traveled to Piscataway, New Jersey and the Scarlet Knights ended that run atop the polls with a 70-68 win. Purdue had won eight games before being beaten last season.

This year, it was thirteen.

Rutgers guard Cam Spencer hit a three with 14 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Scarlet Knights a 65-64 lead. That shot followed Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer’s three with 30 seconds left that had the host team up 64-62 and their sellout Mackey Arena crowd in a frenzy.

Photo by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

Despite playing integral minutes, Purdue guard Brandon Newman missed a three-pointer from the wing with three seconds left, and the Scarlet Knights held on for the 65-64 win.

Photo by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

Earlier, Purdue’s 7-4 center Zach Edey went to the bench with his second foul at the 9:37 mark of the first half. For almost three minutes the Boilers held serve and trailed 19-18. Spencer hit a layup for the Scarlet Knights after a Purdue turnover – watch for a trend here. Spencer hit another layup after another Black and Gold miscue. A third Boiler turnover in 1:22 led to a Paul Mulcahy jumper and Purdue coach Matt Painter called timeout with his team now down 25-18 and reeling.

Photo by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

In a four-minute span of the first half, Purdue had six of their 13 turnovers in the game. Also, several passes that didn’t result in turnovers left the Boilermaker shooters with awkward catches and difficult shots.

They were definitely out of sync.

The stat page revealed some areas that Purdue usually dominates in, but on this day – a nightmare day for Boilermaker faithful considering the collapse of the football team in the Citrus Bowl earlier Monday – they lost in every one of those categories.

Points off of turnovers – Rutgers 18 Purdue 11. Points in the paint – Rutgers 26 Purdue 22. Second Chance Points – Rutgers 14 Purdue 13.

Purdue also uncharacteristically struggled from the free throw line – with the exception of Edey, who hit seven of his nine attempts from the charity stripe. His teammates could only connect on 12 of their 19 attempts (63%). As a team, Purdue is among the nation’s leaders in Free Throw proficiency at over 75% made through the first 13 games.

Purdue trailed 34-24 at half, and Rutgers recorded their largest lead of the night – thirteen – on a Mulcahy three with 19:39 left in the game. That three came after another Purdue turnover to open the second half.

The Boilers chipped away at that lead and when Purdue forward Caleb Furst hit a three with 15:52 remaining, Purdue had cut the lead to six, 40-34. The Boilermakers would pull to within two on an Edey Free Throw with 8:26 on the clock. Ethan Morton scored his only two points of the game to tie the score at 52 with 5:48 remaining.

Newman’s three with 4:45 left gave Purdue its first lead since the 7:57 mark of the first half – more than 23 minutes of game clock.

Down the stretch, Rutgers turned to Bayonne, New Jersey’s 6-7 Senior Mulcahy, who was clutch over a five minute, 25 second span that included, his teammates moving the ball around and finding him for fade away baskets, put back baskets and a steadying presence in the midst of a frenzied Mackey arena crowd.

Photo by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

Mulcahy led the Scarlet Knights (10-4, 2-1) with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Spencer followed with 14 points on six of eight shooting. 6-11 forward Clifford Omoruyi played well against the All American Edey garnering 12 points and six boards.

For Purdue (13-1, 2-1), they were paced by the steady Canadian Edey with 19 points and 11 rebounds in just under 28 minutes due to first half foul trouble. Loyer was Purdue’s only other player in double figures with ten.

Photo by: Anthony Harper/Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network

Purdue travels to Ohio State on Thursday for a clash with the Buckeyes. Rutgers will host Maryland also on Thursday.