No. 4 Purdue beats Minnesota for 4th straight victory

Jaden Ivey scored 21 factors and Zach Edey added a double-double of 14 factors and 12 rebounds, main No. 4 Purdue to an 88-73 win over Minnesota on Wednesday evening.

Senior guard Eric Hunter Jr. added a career-high 20 factors and the Boilermakers obtained double-figure scoring from 4 gamers. Hunter entered the competition averaging 4.3 factors.

Purdue (19-3, 8-3 Huge Ten) has received 4 straight and 7 of its final eight video games.

Whereas the Boilermakers excelled close to the rim, scoring 40 factors within the paint, Purdue additionally hit 12 of 24 photographs from 3-point vary in dealing with the Gophers.

“Like another sport, we’re going to attempt to set up our measurement,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter mentioned. “Simply the steadiness of getting deep post-ups, on the brink of shoot, seeing how they’re going to deal with these post-ups, after which simply executing our units.”

Payton Willis scored 24 factors and Jamsion Battle added 21 for Minnesota (11-8, 2-8), which misplaced its third straight.

Purdue adopted up its dramatic last-second win over Ohio State with a cushty street victory. The Gophers briefly made issues fascinating within the second half earlier than operating out of steam.

Edey scored 9 of his factors within the first 4 minutes, and the Boilermakers began 8 of 8 from the ground.

“It actually comes from setting the tone proper from the start on my first shift, simply from the tipoff,” Edey mentioned. “It creates a gravity nearly in direction of me the place, for the remainder of the sport, I can kick out to different individuals. Different individuals have been getting wide-open layups as a result of they didn’t need to assist off me.”

As Minnesota started to double-team Edey, he discovered teammates as Purdue’s inside-out sport thrived. Edey had three assists and likewise drew eight fouls.

Hunter was 4 of 6 from 3-point vary to guide all Boilermakers from deep. He has scored in double figures in three of Purdue’s final 4 video games.

“It’s all the time good to get profession highs, particularly on the street when often you don’t play your greatest on the street on the offensive aspect,” Hunter mentioned.

Minnesota minimize Purdue’s 15-point halftime result in seven after 5 straight factors by Treyton Thompson that made it 63-56. The Gophers couldn’t get any nearer as Purdue started making stops on protection.

“We’re by no means going to have a look at the rating and be like, ‘Oh, we’re out of this sport,’” Battle mentioned. “We noticed we have been down 18 right now. We fought again and we tried to make it a sport, and I assumed we did make it a sport.”

Minnesota threatened one final time, with 4 minutes remaining. Battle hit a 3-pointer from the nook to make it a 10-point sport, however Purdue’s Trevion Williams discovered a slicing Ivey for a straightforward dunk to reply.

The Boilermakers used their measurement to dominate on the glass. Purdue outrebounded Minnesota 39-23.

“They’re workforce, proficient workforce,” Willis mentioned of Purdue. “They’ve clearly obtained some large guys inside and obtained some wings that may shoot the ball very well.”

Minnesota restricted Williams. The Boilermakers’ third-leading scorer didn’t have some extent till a free throw early within the second half. He completed with 5 factors and three fouls in 13 minutes.

Minnesota’s Eric Curry got here off the bench in his second sport again from an ankle damage. He struggled from the ground with 1-for-7 capturing.

BIG PICTURE

Purdue: The Boilermakers continued to point out the depth that has led to a top-5 rating. Three gamers have been in double-figures at halftime in Purdue’s street win.

Minnesota: The Gophers fell to 0-5 this season towards ranked groups, together with losses towards ranked opponents of their final three video games. Wednesday’s sport was probably the most lopsided of the 5.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

After shifting into the highest 5 this week, Purdue will look to remain there when it faces Michigan on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Purdue: Hosts Michigan on Saturday.

Minnesota: At Iowa on Sunday.