Boilermakers Gut Out Win Over Scarlet Knights

Boilermakers Gut Out Win

by: Steven Stremming/Excel H Sports/USBWA

Purdue came into New Jersey with one thing on their minds and that was to defeat Rutgers in their Jersey Mike gym.

That they did but not without a battle of wills.

Rutgers played Purdue tough throughout the game and gave the Boilers fits, closing the game several times within two points.

But every time, the Boilers found the defending national player of the year, Zach Edey for big baskets and timely free throws.

Edey did not disappoint as he dominated the paint and flushed several scores.

Zach Edey scored 26 points on nine of twelve from the floor, eight out of thirteen free throws and 12 rebounds. Edey also passed the 2,000 point mark in his career.

Braden Smith added 19 points on seven of ten from the floor.

Lance Jones was all over the floor and was as key as Edey and Smith as he recorded ten rebounds, eight assists, five steals while scoring four points.

Mason Gillis once again was crucial in the Boilers win as he scored eight points and Fletcher Loyer scored seven points, including five huge free throws down the stretch.

Rutgers was led by Aundre Hyatt’s 15, Cliff Omoruyi’s 13, Davis nine and freshman Gavin Griffith’s eight off the bench.

(The following is credited to Purdue University Athletics)

• Purdue won its fifth straight game to improve to 19-2 overall and 8-2 in the Big Ten Conference with a 68-60 win at Rutgers on Sunday afternoon.
• The win was Purdue’s first in Piscataway since Feb. 3, 2018, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Scarlet Knights on the road.
• The Purdue senior class (and junior Caleb Furst) have won a game in every Big Ten arena. The group joins the Purdue classes of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 as classes to win in every league arena.
• Purdue is now 4-2 on the road in Big Ten play having won three straight road games by a combined 43 points.
• The win was Purdue’s nation-leading 12^th win in the first two quadrants. Wisconsin and Connecticut are next with 10. Nine of them have come away from Mackey Arena.
• Purdue is now 19-2 (or better) in consecutive seasons for the first time ever and is 19-2 or better for the third time in the last seven seasons (2023-24, 2022-23, 2017-18).
• Over the last two seasons, Purdue is 40-3 (.931) in the months of November, December and January.
• Purdue has won 14 of its last 15 games when ranked No. 2 in the country.
• Purdue has won 39 straight games when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent (Purdue – .489; Rutgers – .375).
• Purdue is 77-16 overall since the start of the 2021-22 season. Wisconsin is next among Big Ten teams with 61 victories.
• Purdue is 47-36 in conference road games since the start of the 2014-15 season – the fifth-best record in America.
• Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Purdue is 104-41 (.717) in conference games, the fourth-best percentage among major-conference programs (Kansas, Virginia, Kentucky).
• Purdue is 14-2 this season against the KenPom top-100.
• Zach Edey became the sixth player in school history with 2,000 career points, reaching the mark in the first half on a dunk. Edey tallied 26 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks and 1 assist en route to his 30^th career 20-10 game, the second-most in Purdue history (Terry Dischinger – 48).
• Edey now ranks second in school history with 53 career double-doubles (Terry Dischinger – 54).
• His 72 straight games in double-figures have tied a school record (Rick Mount – 72).
• Edey now needs just three blocked shots to become the third player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks and to shoot 60.0 percent from the field. Edey is averaging just 23.5 minutes for his career.
• Based on a 36-game season, Edey is now on pace for 830 points, 411 rebounds and 84 blocked shots.
• In a 40-game season, Edey is on pace for 922 points, 457 rebounds and 93 blocked shots. Should he reach 900-450, he’d be the eighth player in NCAA history with 900 points, 450 rebounds in a season (Larry Bird, Elvin Hayes, Rick Barry, Len Chappell, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor).
• Braden Smith tallied 19 points, six rebounds and two assists. Smith surpassed 300 career assists in just his 56^th career game (5.38 assists / game for his career).
• Lance Jones had just four points, but added a career-high 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. His 8 assists and 5 steals were one off his career high in those categories. Jones becomes the second player this year (Tulane’s Kevin Cross vs. Furman; Dec. 14, 2023).