Purdue Wins Gut Check Game 83 to 78

Purdue Wins Gut Check Game 83 to 78

written by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA

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

photos by: Tony Harper/Indiana Sports Network

In a must watch game early in the B1G Ten Men’s basketball season, this was the one to watch.

Maryland came into Mackey Arena after dismantling the Ohio State Buckeyes 83 to 59 and the Purdue Boilermakers (#8 Excel H Sports) came into the game, coming off a loss to Penn State 81 to 70.

So much was on the line, because any coach will tell you, no team wants to open the season zero and two.

Both squads went after early and often, and the result was back and forth basketball.

The Boilers went 7 for 16 from 3-point range in the second half after going 2 for 10 from deep in the first half.

Myles Colvin was a force on the boards with a game total of seven and two monster putbacks to help Purdue’s momentum.

Maryland led 36-31 at halftime as both teams made 13 of 35 shots in the first half, but the Terrapins had three more 3-pointers to account for the margin.

The Boilermakers shot 37% in the first half; the Boilermakers made 53% of their shots in the second half. Despite Maryland’s size advantage, Purdue had a 42-32 edge in points in the paint.

Purdue took a ten-point advantage with basically two minutes left in the game after going on a eight to nothing run and Camden Heide closed the game out with three foul shots.

For the game Purdue was led by Braden Smith’s 24 points on nine of fifteen shooting, five of nine from behind the arc and a game high ten (10) assists.

Trey Kaufman-Renn added 21 points on nine of eighteen from the floor and a team-high eight boards.

Camden Heide scored 15 points on five of eight from the floor and four of four from the charity stripe and Heide recorded two blocks.

Fletcher Loyer scored 12 points on four of eleven from the floor and seven boards and two momentum building three-pointers to begin the second half of play.

Myles Colvin was a factor as he pulled down seven rebounds and wooed the Mackey faithful with two dominating put backs.

Caleb Furst scored five points and Will Berg two points off the bench.

For Maryland, Baltimore native, 6’10 Derik Queen led the Terps with 26 on eleven of eighteen from the floor, pulled in a game-high 12 rebounds and hit two-threes, his first of the year.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 18 points on six of thirteen and four assists while his running mate, Rodney Rice added 13 on five of twelve from the floor.

Selton Miguel added 13 in support.

      The following is courtesy of Purdue University Athletics

No. 8-ranked Purdue rallied for an 83-78 win over Maryland in the Boilermakers’ Big Ten home opener on Sunday afternoon. The win moves Purdue’s overall record to 8-2 and to 1-1 in the Big Ten Conference.

The win moves Purdue’s record against Maryland to 10-6 overall and the Boilermakers have won seven straight home games against the Terrapins (lone loss: Jan. 10, 2015). Purdue has won those seven games by a combined 26 points. The last five wins have each come by fewer than four points.

• The Boilermakers are 8-2 overall, playing the 14^th most-difficult schedule in the country.
• One game after having 24 turnovers, Purdue had just eight turnovers against the team that ranked No. 9 nationally in defensive turnover percentage entering the contest. In Purdue’s eight wins, it is averaging just 10.1 turnovers. In its two losses, it is averaging 19.5 turnovers.
• Purdue won its 23^rd straight home game, good for the fifth-longest streak in America. The Boilermakers have won 12 straight home games against Big Ten foes.
• Purdue is now 98-3 since the start of the 2017-18 season when scoring at least 80 points.
• Purdue has won 16 straight games when having fewer turnovers than its opponent.
• Purdue has won 26 straight games when having a run of 10-0 or larger.
• Purdue is now 100-21 since the start of the 2021-22 season, the second team nationally to reach 100 wins in that span (Houston – 102). The class consisting of Caleb Furst becomes the seventh Purdue class with 100 career victories.
• Braden Smith recorded his 14^th career double-double with 24 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds against just one turnover while playing all 40 minutes. He becomes the first Purdue player with a 20-point, 10-assist double-double since Troy Lewis had 22 points and 14 assists against Indiana in Feb. 1988. He also made a career-high five 3-pointers.
• Smith also becomes the first big Ten player since Minnesota’s Nate Mason (Jan. 1, 2017 vs. Purdue) to have at least 24 points and 10 assists with one or fewer turnovers.
• Purdue improved to 25-1 during their careers when Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer combine to score 25 points (Smith 24, Loyer 12).
• Trey Kaufman-Renn tallied 21 points, eight rebounds and two assists – his fourth 20-point game of the season. He scored 15 points (7-10 FGs) in the second half. He has scored at least 14 points in all 10 games this season.
• Camden Heide tied a season high with 15 points, going 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He added three rebounds and two blocked shots and is now shooting 54.3 percent (19-of-35) and 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the free throw line.
• Fletcher Loyer scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.