WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.

Trey Kaufman-Renn led the No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers to an impressive 80-45 victory over Marshall on Saturday, scoring 18 points. Myles Colvin and Camden Heide contributed significantly as well, each adding 13 points in their first starts of the season for Purdue (5-1). Despite Braden Smith’s struggles, where he went scoreless and shot 0-for-4, he still managed to lead the team with nine assists.

On the other side, Nate Martin was the standout for Marshall (3-2), managing to score nine points during his 24 minutes of play before fouling out in the final moments of the game.

Purdue began strong, shooting 55% in the first half and establishing a 39-24 lead by halftime. However, they experienced a rough patch towards the end of the first half, managing only one field goal in the last nine minutes. The second half saw a more intense performance from the Boilermakers, allowing them to expand their lead to as much as 41 points. Overall, Purdue completed the game with a shooting percentage of 50%, while holding the Thundering Herd to just 30%.

Additionally, Purdue dominated in points off turnovers, holding a 23-4 advantage, and outscored Marshall 36-14 in the paint.

Marshall struggled notably with their shooting accuracy, particularly from beyond the arc, hitting only 4 of their 32 attempts for a dismal 12.5%. In contrast, Purdue rebounded from a previous loss to No. 15 Marquette, showcasing a stronger performance to increase their streak of consecutive non-conference home victories to 31, a record for the program.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Heide, who averaged just 4.8 points prior to this matchup, hit his third 3-pointer, sparking the crowd and giving Purdue a 20-10 lead. He accounted for 11 of the Boilermakers’ initial 20 points.

One of the most significant statistics from the game was Purdue’s advantage in free throw opportunities; the Boilermakers converted 26 of 33 attempts while Marshall made just 9 of 17, reflecting a disparity in foul troubles with Marshall committing nine additional fouls.

Looking ahead, Marshall will host South Carolina State on Wednesday, while Purdue is set to take on North Carolina State at the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego on Thursday.