Purdue 76 USC 71, Game Recap
[Indianapolis, IN]- Purdue’s late defensive effort pushed the Boilermakers past USC 76-71 in the Big Ten Tournament.
USC’s Xavier transfer Desmond Claude opened the scoring in the first thirty seconds of the game, which was responded by Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn making the score tied at 2-2. Kaufman-Renn would give Purdue their first lead of the game at 4-2 on the following possession. Fletcher Loyer accounted for the first three pointer of the game, giving Purdue a 7-2 lead at the 17:41 mark in the first half.
On the following possessions, the Boilermakers and Trojans would exchange baskets with USC pulling within two at 9-7.
After Purdue made it a 17-14 game with 12:19 left in the first half, USC would claw back with a layup by Saint Thomas and a free throw by Wesley Yates III to tie the game at 17-17. Yates III would give the Trojans their first lead since the early portions of the game at 19-17. That lead would grow as high as 25-17 before Purdue’s C.J. Cox would hit a layup bringing the Boilermakers back within seven.
USC would continue to grow their lead until Kaufman-Renn tied the game up at 28-28 with 4:23 left in the half. Yates III, Thomas, and Matt Knowling would be the final Trojans to score in the first half. For Purdue Myles Colvin and Gicarri Harris would ensure the halftime score was tied at 35-35.
The second half scoring opened with a Yates III three pointer, which Braden Smith would respond to with one of his own. For every USC lead, Purdue would tie the game in the early part of the second half, until Fletcher Loyer made a three to break the 42-40 deficit and give Purdue the lead at 43-42. The lead did not last long however, as Rashan Agee hit a free throw to once again tie the game at 43-43.
Near the halfway point of the second half, Knowling hit a tip shot to give USC a 58-55 lead. Kaufman-Renn would bring the game back within one at 58-57. Loyer would again give Purdue the lead at 59-58 with 9:21 left to play.
With 6:05 left to play, Purdue would again tie the game at 65-65 thanks to Kaufman-Renn. Smith would break the tie with 3:42 left with a layup.
After getting up 71-67, Claude would score a layup bringing USC back within two at 71-69, the last time either team would score until there were :55 left in the game. Claude would again tie the game at 71-71 at that mark, the ninth tie of the game. That would be however, the last time Purdue’s defense would allow a USC score.
The Boilermakers would finish the game with five free throws, three by Kaufman-Renn and two by Smith on their way to the 76-71 victory.
As a team, Purdue converted 47.3% of their shots and hit 39% of their threes. The Boilermakers out rebounded the Trojans 36-33 and won the assist battle 13-12. Both teams committed ten turnovers, with Purdue using those turnovers for 12 points.
Individually, Kaufman-Renn tied his career high in points in a game at 30. He hit 12-20 shots from the field and 6-11 from the free throw line. Smith had a double-digit scoring night at 12 points, converting 3-10 from the field and 1-4 from the three-point line. Loyer scored 14 in the win on a 4-9 shooting night. Purdue’s bench accounted for 19 points in the win.
After eliminating the Trojans, Purdue will now face Michigan on Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for around 9:00 PM Eastern.
