Purdue Claims 25th Consecutive Home Win 79 to 61

Purdue Claims 25th Consecutive Home Win 79 to 61

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA

Braden Smith lifted Purdue to their 25 consecutive home victory with a outstanding first half as Smith scored 17 of his 22 points.

Purdue bolted out to a 41 to 18 margin they never relinquished.

C. J. Cox in a starting spot led by 12 points on four of six shots and a team-high eight rebounds.

Trey Kaufman-Rennn added 12 points and six boards while Caleb Furst added five points and hauled in six rebounds.

Purdue hit 50.9% from the field on 28 of 55 shooting along with 15 of 18 free throws for 83,3% from the line.

Angelo Ciaravino scored 19 points off the Northwestern bench to lead the Wildcats.

Nick Martinelli added 12 while both Jalen Leach and Brooks Barnhizer adding eleven a piece.

The following is courtesy of Purdue University Athletics

• Purdue won its third straight game and moved to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten Conference with a 79-61 victory over Northwestern.
• The 18-point margin was the largest in the series since Jan. 23, 2022 (80-60 Purdue win) – a span of five games. Purdue led by 23 at halftime (41-18), its largest halftime lead of the season.
• Purdue held Northwestern to 38.3 percent shooting and its two leading scorers, Brooks Barnhizer and Nick Martinelli, who entered the game averaging 40.2 points per game between them, to 21 points on 6-of-23 shooting with 10 combined turnovers.
• Purdue is 3-1 (or better) in Big Ten play for the fifth time in the last nine years and for the third straight season.
• Purdue has now won 25 straight home games, dating to Feb. 2023. The streak is tied for the sixth-longest streak in America, and the third longest in Mackey Arena history.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Purdue is now 54-3 (.947) in Mackey Arena.
• Purdue has won 13 straight home games against Big Ten opponents, the fifth-longest streak in Mackey Arena history.
• Matt Painter won his 229^th game in Big Ten Conference play, moving past Ward “Piggy” Lambert for fourth on the career wins list in conference history (Bob Knight – 355; Tom Izzo – 346; Gene Keady – 265; Matt Painter – 229).
• Purdue averaged 12.3 turnovers per game in its first 12 games of the season. In the last three games, Purdue has averaged 7.3 turnovers per game.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season (senior class), Purdue is now 103-23 overall, good for the sixth-most wins by a senior class in school history.
• Purdue won its 64^th straight game (and second straight) when shooting at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line. The last time Purdue lost when reaching those numbers came in March 2004.
• The big three of Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith combined for 43 points in the win. When the trio combines for 41 points, the Boilermakers are 10-0.
• Braden Smith recorded his third straight 20-point game with 22 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Over the last three games, Smith is averaging 25.3 PPG, 9.7 APG, 5.3 RPG and 2.0 SPG, while making 14, 3-pointers.
• Smith moved into second on the school’s career assists chart with 574, passing Brian Walker (572 in 1979-81).
• Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 12 points with six rebounds and a career-high four assists. He has scored at least 11 points in all 15 games this season.
• Freshman C.J. Cox scored 12 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.