Boilers win with Grit, Guts, Edey and Jones

Boilers win with Grit, Guts, Edey and Jones

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA

In the opening round of the 2024 B1G Ten Men’s Quarterfinals, Michigan State and Purdue went toe to toe for the entire contest.

And what a game it was, as Purdue withstood a spirited comeback by Michigan State from 12 down in the second half to withstand the Spartans run.

Purdue led at the break 34 to 27 behind Edey and Braden Smith along with Lance Jones. We will get back to Jones’ contributions in a bit.

But first Edey, Edey gave the Spartans all they wanted for the entire game and Purdue was alert to find him in the paint. Once Edey set up deep in the paint, there was nothing State could do but foul him and draw the ire of Head Coach Tom Izzo.

Edey would score 29 points on ten of sixteen from the floor, nine of fourteen from the line, assisted on four baskets and slapped away two Spartan shots.

Braden Smith was huge in the first half of the game before suffering a calf muscle strain that forced him into the locker room. Smith did return to the game though, to the relief of the Boilermaker faithful.

Smith handed out eight assists for the game.

Then along came Jones. Lance Jones was solid for the game on the defensive side as he drew five defensive charge calls against the Spartans.

When Smith went out Jones took over the point and controlled the offensive effort for the Boilers.

Jones would score 10 points; four rebounds and five charity tosses to go along with the five drawn charge calls.

Michigan State would make a hard charge to cut the game as close as three points behind the efforts of Malik Hall who scored 12 points on five of eleven shots with seven rebounds.

Tre Holloman scored ten points off the bench with solid overall play.

A J Hoggard would score only eight points but handed out ten assists.

Tyson Walker would score 15 points but on 18 shots from the field.

Mady Sissoko gave a solid effort against Edey and recorded seven boards.

The game coming down the stretch was highlighted by threes from Mason Gillis and a back breaker three from Fletcher Loyer.

Purdue moves on to play either Wisconsin or Northwestern in the next round.