Michigan Crushed as Purdue Bounces Back

Michigan Crushed as Purdue Bounces Back

Purdue basketball was on fire after a disappointing loss to Ohio State, and unfortunately for Michigan, they were next in line.

From the get-go, the 12th-ranked Boilermakers were determined to prove themselves. No. 20 Michigan had no chance against a Purdue team that was eager to snap its 26-game home winning streak.

The Boilers pummeled Michigan 91-64 in Mackey Arena on Friday night, extending their winning streak to one.

Purdue’s Dominant First Half

Michigan won the tip-off, but Purdue quickly took control.

Braden Smith stole a pass from Tre Donaldson and scored a fastbreak layup just 13 seconds later. Twenty-one seconds after that, CJ Cox’s steal led to a Trey Kaufman-Renn rebound bucket.

Purdue (16-5, 8-2) never looked back, building a 29-point lead in the first half.

The Wolverines finished the first half with a dismal shooting performance, making only 1 of 16 three-pointers and committing 10 turnovers. Purdue, on the other hand, shot a blistering 54.8% from the field, including 25 of 38 from inside the arc.

Key Players

Purdue’s success was a team effort, with all nine players who entered the game in the first half scoring.

Braden Smith led the charge with 24 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. Caleb Furst continued to be a defensive force, limiting Danny Wolf to just four points and two rebounds. CJ Cox also made significant contributions with 11 points, three rebounds, and three steals.

Conclusion

Purdue’s victory was a statement that they are still a force to be reckoned with, despite their recent setback. Michigan, on the other hand, has now lost two straight games and will need to regroup quickly.

Purdue’s next challenge will be on Tuesday, when they host No. 3 Ohio State in a rematch of their previous game. Michigan will look to bounce back on Sunday when they travel to face Indiana.