In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, Braden Smith showcased an impressive performance, contributing 22 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, helping No. 13 Purdue defeat Yale with a score of 92-84. Trey Kaufman-Renn also played a significant role, adding 17 points to the Boilermakers’ tally.
With this victory, Purdue improved its record to 3-0 and extended its home winning streak to 21 games, equaling the third-longest stretch in the history of Mackey Arena. Furthermore, the team has notched 24 straight wins in November and remains undefeated in regular-season non-conference games since December 2020.
On the opposing side, John Poulakidas led Yale (1-2) with an impressive 23 points, knocking down five 3-pointers. Additionally, Samson Aletan recorded a personal best of 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the reigning Ivy League champions.
Purdue had to navigate the game without their 7-foot-4 freshman, Daniel Jacobsen, who fractured his right tibia during only his second career start on Friday. Jacobsen is set for surgery on Wednesday and may potentially be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Additionally, the atmosphere in the student section was notably improved, as university officials warned fans that any repetition of a chant from Friday regarding the football coach Ryan Walters would lead to removal from the arena.
**Key Takeaways**
Yale demonstrated resilience against Purdue’s physicality and speed, but their struggles from beyond the arc proved to be detrimental, eventually causing them to tire out. Despite the hardships, this squad has the potential to contend for another conference title.
For Purdue, Coach Matt Painter’s team continues to exhibit dominance at the start of the season, even against potential challengers for the NCAA Tournament. However, improving their game will be crucial as they prepare to meet tougher opponents coming up this weekend.
**Key Moment**
A pivotal moment in the game came when Camden Heide sank two three-pointers, forced a turnover, and created a missed layup opportunity for Yale on his offensive rebound attempt. This allowed Smith to assist Myles Colvin on a dunk, pushing Purdue ahead 72-60 with 7:30 left on the clock.
**Key Stat**
Interestingly, Yale outscored Purdue in the paint 50-24 but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 8 of 26 three-point attempts, whereas the Boilermakers made 11 of their 23 attempts.
Looking ahead, Yale is set to host Emerson on Wednesday, while Purdue will take on No. 2 Alabama at home on Friday evening.