In a decisive victory on Friday evening, the No. 14 ranked Purdue Boilermakers easily defeated Northern Kentucky, finishing with a score of 72-50. Fletcher Loyer was a standout for Purdue, contributing 16 points, while fellow teammate Trey Kaufman-Renn added 14 points to the scoreboard. Braden Smith was also notable in the match, providing 11 points along with seven assists. Caleb Furst made a significant impact off the bench, scoring eight points.

The Norse, currently holding a record of 0-2, struggled offensively as no player managed to reach double digits in scoring. Trey Robinson, Sam Vinson, and Keeyan Itejere each contributed eight points for Northern Kentucky.

Purdue got off to a fast start with a 12-0 run, leading to an early 18-4 advantage in the first half. However, a nearly six-minute scoring dry spell by the Boilermakers kept them from extending their lead. They eventually ended the half with a 37-24 advantage.

In the opening minute of the game, Purdue’s freshman center Daniel Jacobsen, who scored 13 points in his previous game, fell and had to be assisted off the court. Although he was seen walking to the locker room and returned to the bench with ice on his shin, he did not participate again in the game.

Takeaways
Northern Kentucky struggled, shooting a mere 30% from the field, despite managing to match Purdue in total rebounds at 33 each. The Norse excelled slightly in offensive rebounds, claiming a 15-8 advantage.
For Purdue, the team showcased a more effective performance against this underperforming opponent compared to their 90-73 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi, where their lead had dwindled to just three points late in the matchup. They shot 50% from the field but had a less impressive free-throw performance, making 9 out of 14 attempts.

Key Moment
A significant play occurred when freshman guard Gicarri Harris hit a pull-up jumper just as the shot clock expired, igniting the crowd and extending Purdue’s lead to 60-40. This moment sparked an impressive 8-0 run for the Boilermakers.

Key Stat
Loyer demonstrated his shooting skills by making 4 out of 5 attempts from beyond the arc, contributing to Purdue’s overall performance of 9 for 22 from three-point territory. In contrast, Northern Kentucky struggled with their long-range shooting, finishing 5 for 23, with two baskets coming late in the contest.

Upcoming Matches
Northern Kentucky is set to host Nicholls on Thursday, while Purdue will welcome Yale for their next game on Monday.