WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In an intense matchup on Friday night, Trey Kaufman-Renn led the charge for 20th-ranked Purdue, scoring an impressive 29 points to overcome UCLA with a score of 76-66, snapping a recent four-game losing streak for the Boilermakers.
Kaufman-Renn showcased remarkable efficiency, hitting 11 of 15 shots and converting 7 of his 10 free throw attempts. Contributing significantly to the win, Braden Smith added 23 points. Fletcher Loyer also played a key role by adding 11 points to Purdue’s tally.
The UCLA Bruins, now with a record of 20-9, received notable contributions from Tyler Bilodeau, who scored 15 points, and Sebastian Mack, who added 10. The game remained closely contested, with Purdue shooting 52% from the floor while UCLA managed a 48% shooting accuracy. The lead exchanged hands multiple times until Purdue found its stride in the last few minutes.
At a pivotal moment, trailing by a point at 56-55, Kaufman-Renn catalyzed a Purdue surge, scoring six straight points, which propelled the Boilermakers into a 61-56 lead with 5:35 remaining. Camden Heide and Fletcher Loyer complemented his effort by sinking three-pointers, culminating in a decisive 12-0 run.
An attempt to halt Purdue’s momentum was made by Aday Mara, who nailed a turnaround jumper, cutting the lead to 67-58 and ending UCLA’s scoring drought. However, Purdue’s Braden Smith shut the door on a Bruins comeback with a pair of timely three-point shots.
Despite controlling the boards with a 31-23 rebounding advantage, UCLA couldn’t capitalize on their size. During the first half, Purdue enjoyed 60% shooting to lead 37-35 at the break. Although UCLA managed a 46% shooting percentage and a strong 20-7 rebounding edge then, it fell short offensively in the half’s waning moments.
A sequence where the Boilermakers initially built a 29-19 advantage was almost negated by an 8-0 surge from UCLA. Loyer’s timely three-pointer helped Purdue regain some lead before the break, entering halftime clinging to a narrow 32-27 advantage.
Key observations included UCLA’s success in bench scoring, where they held a 30-8 edge. Yet, containing Purdue’s top scorers remained a hurdle throughout. On a personal milestone, Purdue’s Braden Smith became the program’s all-time assist leader, surpassing Bruce Parkinson with 691 career assists, adding a noteworthy historical element to the game.
One key play, a clutch three-pointer from Loyer as the shot clock wound down, gave Purdue a double-digit advantage at 67-56, energizing the home crowd and forcing UCLA into a timeout with just under four minutes remaining.
From beyond the arc, Purdue found success, converting 11 of their 22 three-point attempts, while UCLA struggled, landing only 5 of their 18.
Looking forward, UCLA is set to face Northwestern on Monday night, whereas Purdue will prepare to host Rutgers on Tuesday.
