[1] Purdue 81, Rutgers 65 (Postgame Notes)
- 1-ranked Purdue improved to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten with an 81-65 win at Rutgers in the league opener for both teams.
- Purdue is now 8-0 (or better) for the seventh time in school history (since the 1938-39 season). Five of the occurrences have come under Coach Painter (2009-10, 2015-16, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2025-26).
- The Boilermakers won their December Big Ten road game for the first time since the 2022-23 season and are now just 3-6 in those games. The 16-point margin was the largest margin of victory for Purdue in those games.
- Purdue has won six straight games against the Scarlet Knights, the last four coming by at least 16 points. Purdue has won the six games by a combined 104 points (17.3 points per game).
- Purdue has scored at least 80 points in all eight games this season, while making at least 10, 3-pointers in five of the eight games.
- Purdue won the rebounding battle, 36-25, and has now outrebounded the five of the last six opponents by 11 or more rebounds.
- Purdue is now 114-5 since the start of the 2017-18 season when scoring at least 80 points in a game.
- Trey Kaufman-Renn recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds, all coming in the last six games. TKR is now averaging 15.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
- Braden Smith scored 16 points with eight assists and three rebounds, going 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Purdue is now 16-2 during his career when he makes four or more 3-pointers.
- In his last three games against Rutgers, Braden Smith averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 assists after going for 16 points and eight assists in Tuesday’s win.
- Gicarri Harris scored 11 points, all in the first half, giving him back-to-back double-figure scoring games for the first time in his career. He has 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 46 minutes over his last two games.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Trey Kaufman-Renn had 19 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double this season to lead top-ranked Purdue over Rutgers 81-65 in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams Tuesday night.
Braden Smith added 16 points and eight assists for the Boilermakers (8-0). Fletcher Loyer had 12 points and Gicarri Harris scored 11 off the bench.
Purdue has reached 80 points in every game this season and is beating opponents by an average of 20.
Dylan Grant and Harun Zrno each scored 13 points for Rutgers (5-4). The Scarlet Knights used 13 players and led for just 2:53 early in the first half.
The Boilermakers have won six games in a row over Rutgers by a combined 104 points. Rutgers had won four straight in the series from January 2020 to December 2021, but Purdue has won seven of eight meetings since.
The Boilermakers opened the second half with a 13-2 run to grab a 54-29 lead. Smith and Loyer had five points apiece in the burst.
Purdue scored 30 points in the paint as Kaufman-Renn and center Oscar Cluff dominated inside. The Boilermakers added 18 assists and scored 14 fast-break points.