No. 3 Purdue Rolls Past Incarnate Word in Final Game Before Holiday BreakNo. 3 Purdue Rolls Past Incarnate Word in Final Game Before Holiday Break

No. 3 Purdue Rolls Past Incarnate Word in Final Game Before Holiday Break

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[3] Purdue 79, Incarnate Word 59 (Postgame Notes)
  • No. 3-ranked Purdue closed out its pre-Holiday break schedule with a 79-59 win over Incarnate Word on Monday night in Mackey Arena.
  • The win improved Purdue to 11-1 on the season, matching the best 12-game start since beginning 14-0 during the 2009-10 season. Purdue also started the 2015-16, 2010-11 and 2009-10 seasons with an 11-1 mark after 12 games.
  • The win was Purdue's 12th straight against non-conference foes during the regular season. The win was Purdue's 13th straight home win against non-conference opposition.
  • The win improved Purdue to 15-2 in the final game before the Holiday break during the Matt Painter era.
  • Over its last 102 games at Mackey Arena, Purdue owns a 92-10 record.
  • The Boilermakers have won seven of their 11 games this year by 20 or more points.
  • Matt Painter won his 366th game at Mackey Arena, now needing five wins to tie Ward "Piggy" Lambert for second place on Purdue's career wins list.
  • Purdue has won 27 straight games when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent.
  • Purdue has won 17 straight games when making 10 or more 3-pointers.
  • Purdue improved to 164-7 under Painter when holding teams to 59 or fewer points.
  • Jaden Ivey now has 25 made 3-pointers on the season, coming in 12 games. Last year, Ivey had 25 made 3-pointers in 23 games. He is shooting 44.6 percent from 3-point range and has scored in double figures in nine straight games.
  • Purdue's big three of Jaden Ivey, Trevion Williams and Zach Edey combined for 37 points, 22 rebounds and nine assists in 53 minutes of action. The trio went 16-of-24 from the field.
  • Sasha Stefanovic passed Ryne Smith for 14th place on the school's career 3-pointers made list. Stefanovic now has 170 career 3-pointers.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue coach Matt Painter might have been hoping for a better holiday send-off Monday night.

Another dominant victory will suffice.

Zach Edey had 13 points and nine rebounds, Trevion Williams added 12 points and eight boards, and the third-ranked Boilermakers routed Incarnate Word 79-59.

Jaden Ivey finished with 12 points and five rebounds for Purdue.

"They really stretched us out and our closeouts weren't great," Painter said. "But I don't think you can lose sight of taking good shots — I just wish we had made a few more."

Purdue (11-1) made more than enough in its third straight victory.

And since losing for the first time and escaping a closer-than-expected contest against North Carolina State, the Boilermakers appear to have gotten back on track with their last two wins coming by a total of 49 points.

No, Purdue didn't play with its trademark clean, crisp style. Instead, it missed its first five free throws, had six first-half turnovers and allowed the Cardinals' 3-point shooters to keep them close — for about 10 minutes.

Then the school that has only been eligible for Division I championships since 2017-18 was overwhelmed by a talented team and superior athletes.

"They are so difficult to deal with because they are so well-coached," Incarnate Word coach Carson Cunningham said after returning to his alma mater. "It's definitely something we feel we can use to get better and hopefully we did some things that will help them get better."

Benjamin Griscti made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points to lead the Cardinals (2-10). Drew Lutz, who grew up in Indiana, had eight rebounds and nine assists — not nearly enough for Incarnate Word to avoid a third loss in five games.

And it didn't take the Boilermakers long to assert themselves.

An early 10-0 run helped Purdue take control initially and when Incarnate Word cut the deficit to 21-16 with consecutive 3s midway through the first half, Purdue delivered a decisive blow with a 15-2 spurt that made it 36-18 — a lead it maintained the rest of the game.

Purdue still led 45-27 at halftime and never allowed the Cardinals to get closer than 17 in the second half.

BIG PICTURE
Incarnate Word: The Cardinals might give other teams trouble with their 3-point shooting. But it was more of a nuisance than a threat against Purdue. Cunningham's team simply couldn't match up against a vastly more talented opponent.
Purdue: The Boilermakers weren't clicking on all cylinders, but they didn't need to in this game. Solid 3-point shooting and defense were enough to get the job done. Painter knows his team must play cleaner when it returns to action after the long holiday break.

STAT PACK
Incarnate Word: Godsgift "GG" Ezedinma had seven points in the first half and finished with nine. Top scorer Josh Morgan wound up with six points and five rebounds. ... The Cardinals were 12 of 27 on 3s and 10 for 27 on 2-pointers. They were outrebounded 46-23. ... Cunningham's team previously lost 87-60 at top-ranked Baylor, the defending national champion, and 84-62 at 2019 NCAA runner-up Texas Tech.
Purdue: Mason Gillis scored 10 points. ... The Boilermakers were 11 of 32 beyond the arc and had a 38-12 scoring advantage in the paint. ... Purdue extended its home winning streak to 12 games, and 13 in a row against non-league foes. ... The Boilermakers can tie the school record for most consecutive weeks ranked in the top three (six) if they stay there Monday. They won't play again until after the next poll is released.

WELCOME BACK, CARSON
Cunningham received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd after a long introduction from the public address announcer. The Incarnate Word coach started 75 games and scored 886 points in his career as he helped Purdue reach the 1999 Sweet 16 and the 2000 Elite Eight.

"Carson is a good guy. He was a good player here and anytime you have a guy like that come back, it's a special moment," Painter said.