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#1 Purdue Uses Second-Half Run to Top Memphis 80-71#1 Purdue Uses Second-Half Run to Top Memphis 80-71

#1 Purdue Uses Second-Half Run to Top Memphis 80-71

Box Score (PDF) Highlights Opens in a new window Painter Postgame Opens in a new window
Box Score

The Key Numbers

19-7

Purdue trailed 64-61, but ended the game on a 19-7 run for the 80-71 win.

11

Purdue has won 11 straight regular-season tournament games, last losing in Nov. 2020.

16-0

Purdue is now 16-0 when Fletcher Loyer makes four or more 3-pointers during his career.

803

Braden Smith surpassed 800 career assists, with 11 tonight (10 assists in the 2nd half).

7-16

Purdue went 7-of-16 from 3-point range in the second half (Loyer & Cox combined 7-of-11).

[1] Purdue 80, Memphis 71 (Postgame Notes)

  • 1 Purdue advanced to the championship game of the Baha Mar Championship with a hard-fought 80-71 win over Memphis at the Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas.
  • The win snapped a four-game losing streak to Memphis and was Purdue’s first win over Memphis since the 1988 NCAA Tournament. The four-game streak had been the longest-active losing streak against one opponent.
  • Purdue has won 11 straight multi-team event tournament games, dating to the 2021 Hall of Fame Tipoff. By advancing to the title game on Friday, Purdue has now played in eight straight MTE title games.
  • Purdue is now 31-6 in MTE events since the 2014 Maui Invitational (12th event).
  • Purdue has now started 5-0 or better for the fourth time in the last five seasons (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26).
  • Purdue is now 33-1 (.971) during the month of November dating to the 2021-22 season. The Boilermakers are also 46-3 (.939) in non-conference play since that same season. Both marks are the best in the country.
  • Purdue had 15 assists on 16 made field goals in the second half, including 10 by Braden Smith.
  • Purdue’s two centers (Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen) combined for 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots while going 6-of-6 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.
  • Purdue won both the turnover (11-12) and rebounding (37-34) battles, improving to 162-15 under Painter when winning both categories.
  • Purdue made 11, 3-pointers and has made at least nine 3-pointers in all five games this season.
  • Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points with four rebounds and two steals, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the second half. He made four 3-pointers and Purdue is now 16-0 during his career when he makes four or more triples in a game.
  • C.J. Cox scored 18 points with four rebounds, going 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Cox now has three career games of 15 or more points and his four 3-pointers were the second most in his career.
  • Trey Kaufman-Renn tallied 12 points with 11 rebounds and four assists for his third straight double-double to start the season (missed first two games).
  • Braden Smith dished out 11 assists for his 26th career 10-assist game (10 in the second half). He surpassed 800 career assists in the victory and is now one of six players in NCAA history with 1,450 career points, 800 career assists and 550 career rebounds. He moved into 54th place on the NCAA career assists list (803). Smith now needs 13 assists to tie Michigan State’s Mateen Cleaves (1997-00) for second on the Big Ten’s career assists list.
  • Smith is also now averaging 7.0 assists per game for his career and is now the fifth player in NCAA history, and the first since 1973, to have played at least 75 games and average 12.0 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. The others are Mike D’Antoni (Marshall), Chris Ford (Villanova), Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati) and Dick Groat (Duke).

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points to lead No. 1 Purdue to an 80-71 victory over Memphis on Thursday night at the Baha Mar Championship.

C.J. Cox added 18 points for Purdue (5-0). He and Loyer each made four 3-pointers. Trey Kaufman-Renn finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists before fouling out after 27 minutes, and reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith had 11 assists.

Dug McDaniel paced Memphis (1-3) with 18 points, six assists and six rebounds. Zach Davis chipped in 11 points.

The game featured nine lead changes and six ties. Trailing by two, momentum seemed to swing in Purdue’s direction with 7:54 to play when Memphis forward Aaron Bradshaw fouled out after receiving a technical for getting in Oscar Cluff's face. The game was physical and chippy throughout, with three technical fouls given out by officials.

Loyer sank the pair of technical free throws, which was the start of a 17-5 game-sealing run for the Boilermakers. The late surge featured a sequence from Loyer where he connected on a fast-break layup and then sank a 3-pointer seconds later, giving Purdue a nine-point advantage with under 3 1/2 minutes to play.