[20] Purdue 79, Northwestern 61 (Postgame Notes)
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 229th 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 64th 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.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Braden Smith had 22 points and seven assists to lead No. 20 Purdue to a 79-61 rout of Northwestern on Sunday.
Smith, who scored 17 of his points in the first half, hit 8 of 16 shots for the Boilermakers (11-4, 3-1 Big Ten). Trey Kaufman-Renn and C.J. Cox each scored 12 points for Purdue.
Angelo Ciaravino led the Wildcats (10-5, 1-3) with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Brooks Barnhizer, who graduated from nearby Lafayette Jefferson High School, and Jalen Leach each had 11 points. Barnhizer, who was averaging 20.1 points entering the game, struggled from the field, making 4 of 15 shots and committed eight turnovers.
The Boilermakers led by as many as 29 points at 63-34 with 11:21 left in the second half. They scored the first seven points and never trailed.
The Boilermakers shot 59% in the first half while holding Northwestern to 25%.
Takeaways
Northwestern: Ciaravino was a bright spot as he was averaging just 3.3 points prior to the game. Nick Martinelli, who averaged 20.1 points entering the game, had 10 points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Purdue: The Boilermakers continue to dominate at home, winning a 25th consecutive home game. Purdue has now won three in a row after a stretch where it lost three of four games.
Key moment
Myles Colvin sank a 3-pointer to give Purdue a 25-14 lead to fire up the crowd. Colvin, who had been mired in a shooting slump, was 1 of 16 from 3-point range in the previous five games. Colvin added a second 3-pointer in the second half, finishing with seven points.
Key stat
Purdue held the Wildcats to 38% from the field, including 28% from 3-point range. In contrast, Purdue shot 51% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.