• Highlights
#BoilerNotes
- Purdue improved to 4-2 overall with a 59-56 win over VCU in the Emerald Coast Classic semifinals … the win was Purdue's third in a row after a 1-2 start.
- The victory was the 350th of Matt Painter's career, coming in his 16th season … he is now 350-166 for his career, and 325-161 in 15 years at Purdue.
- Purdue is now 19-4 during in-season tournaments since the 2014-15 season … the Boilermakers will be playing against an ACC foe for an in-season tournament title for the second straight season (2018 – Charleston Classic vs. Virginia Tech; Loss, 89-83) … Purdue is looking for its first tournament title since 2016 (Cancun Challenge).
- Saturday's game will be a rematch of last year's ACC / Big Ten Challenge game in Tallahassee, won by Florida State 73-72.
- The win was Purdue's 45th against a nationally-ranked team under Matt Painter.
- Purdue has held three straight opponents under 60 points for the first time since doing it in five straight games on Nov. 28 to Dec. 9, 2015 (Lehigh, Pittsburgh, New Mexico, IUPUI, Howard).
- Purdue is now 119-12 under Painter when winning both the rebounding and turnover battles in the same game (+8 on glass; -3 on turnovers vs. VCU).
- Purdue is 147-5 under Painter when holding foes to 59 or fewer points, having won 12 straight games.
- Purdue is 104-9 since the start of the 2014-15 season when attempting more free throws than its opponent.
- Purdue's bench outscored VCU 26-9 … Purdue's bench went 9 of 16 from the field, while its starters went 9 of 28.
- With 12 points, Jahaad Proctor has scored in double-figures in 22 straight games dating to last year.
- Trevion Williams recorded his first double-figure scoring game of the year with 10 points and 7 rebounds … he went 5 of 5 from the field and is now shooting 18 of 24 (.750) from the field this year.
Hunter and Proctor also each scored 12 points to lead the Boilermakers to a 59-56 upset of the No. 20 Rams on Friday night in the Emerald Coast Classic.
The win put Purdue (4-2) in the championship game Saturday against Florida State and handed VCU (6-1) its first loss. The teams traded the lead 13 times and were tied 14 times in a ragged contest. It was not decided until a potential game-tying 3-point shot by VCU's De'Riante Jenkins went wide with 4 seconds left. Hunter grabbed the rebound and it was all over.Hunter also had given the Boilermakers the lead for good 56-55 with 1:37 left by sinking two free throws. Proctor then made three out of four free throws down the stretch.
Marcus Santos-Silva led the Rams with 19 points but missed three of four free throws in the final 1:16. No other VCU players scored in double figures.
Purdue coach Matt Painter was happy with the win but not how the Boilermakers got it.
"It lets you know you have work to do in some areas," Painter said. "I'm proud of our guys being able to grind it out."
Besides shooting only 65.5 percent from the foul line, Purdue also committed 18 turnovers. VCU's free throw percentage was only slightly better at 68.2 percent but the Rams turned the ball over even more.
"We saw some things today that we have to get better on," said VCU coach Mike Rhoades. "There is no reason we should be turning the ball over 21 times."
The only other Boilermaker in double figures was Trevion Williams with 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting, but he fouled out with nearly five minutes left to play.
BIG PICTURE
Purdue: Upsetting a ranked opponent is a relief for the rebuilding Boilermakers as their only other victories have come against Wisconsin-Green Bay, Chicago State and Jacksonville State, none with winning records. Purdue has an opportunity to gain additional momentum before facing defending national champion Virginia on Dec. 4 in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge by winning the tournament championship game against Florida State. The Seminoles knocked off No. 17 Tennessee on Friday. It will be a rematch for the Boilermakers, who lost to Florida State last season in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge. Then it's on to Virginia, which eliminated Purdue from the NCAA Tournament last season with an 80-75 overtime victory in an Elite 8 game.
VCU: The upset loss to Purdue snapped VCU's season-opening six-game winning streak and could threaten the Rams' national ranking. It was the first time in school history that the Rams had been 6-0. That run included a signature victory over then-No. 23 LSU on Nov. 13. They'll have an opportunity to get back on track, though, in the tournament consolation game against another nationally ranked team in Tennessee. It'll be the Rams only remaining game against a Power 5 conference team during the regular season.
BENCH POINTS
Purdue, like Florida State, has a strong bench. The Boilermaker reserves, led by Williams, outscored VCU's 26-9.
UNFAMILIAR BUT MEMORABLE FOES
The game was only the second time Purdue and VCU have played each other. Their first meeting is part of VCU lore. The 11th-seeded Rams upset the third-seeded Boilermakers 94-76 in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament on their way to their only Final Four appearance. They then lost to Butler, which was defeated by Connecticut in the title game.