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#5 Purdue Rolls Wisconsin as Smith Breaks Assist Record#5 Purdue Rolls Wisconsin as Smith Breaks Assist Record

#5 Purdue Rolls Wisconsin as Smith Breaks Assist Record

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#5 Purdue 89, Wisconsin 73 (Postgame Notes)

  • The No. 5-ranked Purdue men’s basketball team improved to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference with an 89-73 win over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison.
  • Purdue is 13-1 for the third time in the last four seasons (2023, 2024, 2026).
  • Purdue is 3-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since starting 12-0 during the 2017-18 season. The Boilermakers have started 3-0 or better in Big Ten play just three times under Matt Painter (2025-26, 2017-18, 2010-11).
  • The win was the 100th victory for Purdue’s senior class, becoming the eighth-fastest class in Big Ten history to 100 career victories (124 career games).
  • The game was Matt Painter’s 700th as a head coach at Purdue, now with a 484-216 record with the Boilermakers.
  • Purdue has won five straight games by a combined 133 points (26.6 PPG), with all the wins coming by at least 16 points. Two of the wins (Auburn, Wisconsin) have come away from Mackey Arena.
  • Purdue had at least five players in double-figures for the eighth time this season, in 14 games played.
  • Purdue snapped a two-game losing streak to the Badgers and the win was Purdue’s largest against Wisconsin in the Kohl Center ever. Purdue has the most wins in the Kohl Center for a visiting team with 8 (Painter is 8-8 in the Kohl Center). Purdue has won three straight games in the Kohl Center.
  • Purdue is now 3-0 on the road with wins over Alabama (87-80), Rutgers (81-65) and Wisconsin (89-73).
  • Purdue is 21-11 (.656) in Big Ten road games since the start of the 2022-23 season, including 3-0 in the Kohl Center.
  • With Oscar Cluff (12 pts, 11 rebs) and Braden Smith (14 pts, 12 asts) each recording double-doubles, Purdue now has 15 double-doubles in 14 games. Last year’s team had 14 double-doubles all season (36 games).
  • Braden Smith became the Big Ten’s all-time leader in career assists with 893, after having 14 points and 12 assists. He moved into 18th place on the NCAA career assists list, now needing 184 assists to set the NCAA career record set by Bobby Hurley (1,076).
  • Smith recorded his 31st career game of 10 or more assists, tied for the seventh most in NCAA history. He also recorded his 22nd career double-double.
  • Braden Smith has had double-digit assists in each of the last four games against Wisconsin, averaging 11.0 assists per game in the last four outings against Wisconsin, after having 12 dimes tonight.
  • Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points with five rebounds and three assists, Purdue improved to 11-1 during his career when he scores 20 or more points.
  • Loyer also had four 3-pointers, and Purdue is now 19-0 in his career when he has at least four 3-pointers.
  • Oscar Cluff recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes for his 28th career double-double (5th at Purdue). Cluff has 15 double-doubles in under 30 minutes played since the start of last year, tied for the most in the country.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Braden Smith became the Big Ten’s career assists leader, Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points and No. 5 Purdue defeated Wisconsin 89-73 on Saturday night.

Smith had 12 assists to increase his career total to 893 and break the record formerly held by Cassius Winston, who compiled 890 career assists with Michigan State from 2017-20.

Smith is averaging 9.6 assists per game and entered Saturday leading all Division I players in that category. The large contingent of Purdue fans at the Kohl Center chanted “Braden Smith!” and gave him a standing ovation after he broke Winston’s record.

The 6-foot senior also had 14 points as Purdue (13-1, 3-0 Big Ten) continued its hot streak.

Since losing 81-58 to No. 3 Iowa State on Dec. 8 — a defeat that dropped Purdue out of the No. 1 ranking — the Boilermakers have won each of their last five games by an average margin of 26.6 points.

C.J. Cox had 14 points, Oscar Cluff 12 and Trey Kaufman-Renn 11 for Purdue. Cluff also had 11 rebounds.

Nick Boyd scored 24 points for Wisconsin (9-5, 1-2), while Nolan Winter added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Purdue led by as many as 25 points with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. Wisconsin clawed back and cut Purdue’s lead to 84-73 with 3:22 left, but Loyer responded with a 3-pointer to thwart any comeback hopes.