Braden Smith Wills Purdue to Victory

Braden Smith Wills Purdue to Victory

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA

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

Braden Smith set a career high in points (34) in Mackey Arena, Saturday evening against the Rockets of Toledo in an 83 to 64 win.

This stopped a tw0-game skid and claimed their 32nd consecutive non-conference game in Mackey.

Back to Smith, Braden scored 17 points alone in the first half as the Boilers opened up an eleven-point margin (39 to 28) a lead the Boilers would never relinquish.

Smith would go on to hit on twelve of his twenty-two shots and six of thirteen from long distance included in his career high 34 points. Smith also assisted on twelve assists and totaled three steals.

The other parts of the Boiler Trio also contributed mightily as Trey Kaufman-Renn added 23 points and Fletcher Loyer added 17, that included four of seven makes from deep.

Purdue also received help from both Caleb Furst, five rebounds in twenty-one minutes and Raleigh Burgess added four boards in his 15 minutes.

Toledo was led by Sam Lewis, 13 points and 12 boards, Sonny Wilson’s 13 points.

Seth Hubbard added eleven points off the Rocket bench.

Purdue continues B1G Ten play against the Gophers in Williams Arena on Thursday while Toledo opens Mid-American conference play at Western Michigan on Saturday.