Purdue appeared somewhat drained. Jaden Ivey struggled. Similar for Trevion Williams.
Happily, the Boilermakers have one in every of school basketball’s deepest rosters.
Zach Edey had 14 factors and eight rebounds, and Purdue moved into first place within the Huge Ten with a 70-64 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday night time.
Capping a stretch of eight video games in 21 days, the Boilermakers (23-4, 12-4) shot 45% from the sphere and dedicated 14 turnovers in a rugged efficiency by one of many nation’s most effective groups. However they held the Wildcats to 35% taking pictures and managed the glass with a 39-34 rebounding benefit.
Mason Gillis and Eric Hunter Jr. every scored 11 factors as Purdue moved a half-game forward of No. 12 Illinois for the highest spot within the convention. The Boilermakers swept their season sequence in opposition to the Illini.
“We obtained 10 guys that may go on a minute’s discover, so it’s at all times the following man up mentality,” Gillis stated.
After watching his workforce get its eighth win in 9 video games, coach Matt Painter acknowledged the toll the stretch had on his Boilermakers.
“It catches as much as you. You simply don’t discuss it as a coach,” he stated. “You attempt to do issues to assist them. , have shorter practices, problem them, attempt to hold them on edge. … It’s not all bodily. The psychological piece is so essential.”
Robbie Beran had 13 factors for Northwestern (12-12, 5-10), and Pete Nance completed with 12. The Wildcats have dropped their final 11 video games in opposition to the Boilermakers, additionally dropping 80-60 of their first assembly of the season on Jan. 23.
“I feel they’re a very good workforce,” Beran stated. “They’ve obtained clearly two actually good guys down low. It sort of units the tone. They’ve some good guard play, sort of push it in transition. Ivey is a one-man quick break.”
Northwestern held Ivey to eight factors on 2-for-12 taking pictures, and the 6-foot-10 Williams completed with simply 4 factors. Ivey was averaging a team-high 17.4 factors coming into the sport, and Williams was averaging 12.3 factors.
The off night time for Ivey and Williams meant the Boilermakers wanted the 7-foot-4 Edey to ship — and he did. Gillis, Hunter and Sasha Stefanovic additionally made some large performs down the stretch.
The Boilermakers took management by opening the second half with a 7-0 run. Ivey transformed a three-point play off an help by Edey, making it 39-28 with 17:59 left.
Northwestern pulled inside seven on a 3-pointer by Julian Roper II, however Purdue responded with a 10-2 run. Gillis and Stefanovic every hit a 3 earlier than Williams’ jumper made it 62-47 with 6:39 remaining.
Gillis made three 3s within the second half. He went 0 for 7 from deep in his earlier two video games.
“I attempt to take the emotion out of taking pictures. Miss or a make,” Gillis stated. “If I get an open shot, it’s going up.”
BIG PICTURE
Purdue: Shrugging off their sluggish offensive begin, the Boilermakers matched the varsity’s finest 27-game begin because it was 25-2 throughout the 1987-88 season. The Boilermakers additionally have been 23-4 in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2010 and 2018.
Northwestern: Ryan Younger’s hand went numb after he was hit on his arm within the second half and he left the sport. Coach Chris Collins stated he was OK. Younger’s constructive prognosis was an upbeat be aware on one other powerful night time for the Wildcats. Boo Buie, who was averaging a team-high 15.1 factors coming in, was shut out within the first half. He completed with 11 factors on 3-for-10 taking pictures.
UP NEXT
Purdue: Hosts Rutgers on Sunday.
Northwestern: At Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.