WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Braden Smith delivered an impressive performance with 34 points and 12 assists, helping No. 21 Purdue secure an 83-64 victory against Toledo on Sunday evening.
Smith had a successful night, hitting 12 of 22 attempts, which included 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. Joining him in the scoring effort were Trey Kaufman-Renn, who contributed 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting, and Fletcher Loyer, who added another 17 points.
In a solid first half, Smith scored 17 points, paving the way for Purdue to establish a 39-28 lead at the break. The Boilermakers executed an impressive 18-2 run, expanding their lead to 28-14 with just under six minutes left in the first half.
On the Toledo side, Sonny Wilson and Sam Lewis both netted 13 points, while Seth Hubbard added 11 points. Lewis also led the Rockets in rebounding with 11 boards, contributing to Toledo’s 40-33 advantage on the boards over Purdue.
Purdue showcased a strong shooting performance, finishing with a 49.2% success rate from the field compared to Toledo’s 40.6%. Additionally, the Boilermakers dominated in fast-break points, leading 15-2.
Takeaways from the game include that while Toledo managed to outscore Purdue in the paint with a 34-28 advantage, they struggled with perimeter shooting, converting only 2 of 14 attempts from three-point range. The Rockets also struggled at the foul line, hitting just 4 of 9 free throws in the first half, which included two airballs from Grgur Brcic.
For Purdue, this victory marked a strong recovery after suffering two consecutive losses, making it their 32nd straight home non-conference victory. The scoring load was carried predominantly by Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer, the team’s leading scorers this season.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Toledo closed the gap to 55-47 with 12:35 remaining. Following this, Smith initiated a crucial response with a driving layup, igniting a 17-2 scoring run for Purdue.
In terms of key statistics, Purdue’s three-point shooting was notably effective, as they converted 10 of 28 attempts, while Toledo struggled significantly from long distance, making only 2 of 14.
Looking ahead, Purdue is scheduled to face Minnesota on Thursday, while Toledo will begin their Mid-American Conference play against Western Michigan on Saturday.
Copyright @2024 | USLive | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | [privacy-do-not-sell-link]