[1] Purdue 82, Evansville 51 (Postgame Notes)
- No. 1-ranked Purdue began its season with an 82-51 win over Evansville in front of the 90th straight home sellout in Mackey Arena on Tuesday night.
- The Boilermakers have won 13 straight season openers by an average of 29.7 points per game.
- Purdue improved to 10-1 all-time in home games when ranked No. 1.
- Purdue is now 32-4 (.889) at home against in-state teams under Matt Painter, having won 34 straight non-conference home games against in-state teams.
- Matt Painter won career game 497 (22nd season), needing three wins for 500 in his career.
- Purdue won its ongoing school-record 33rd straight non-conference home game.
- Purdue played the opener without All-American Trey Kaufman-Renn, who is day-to-day with a hip injury.
- Purdue went 13-of-29 (.448) from 3-point range and has now made at least 11, 3-pointers in five straight season openers.
- Fletcher Loyer scored a career-high 30 points while tying a career high with seven 3-pointers. In four season openers, Loyer averaged 20.0 points per game and shot 19-of-33 (.576) from 3-point range.
- Loyer also became the 10th player in school history to surpass 200 career made 3-pointers, now with 204.
- Loyer has now made seven 3-pointers in back-to-back home games dating to last year.
- Purdue improved to 23-2 when Loyer and Smith combine for 30 or more points.
- Braden Smith recorded his 24th career 10-assist game with 11 assists in 30 minutes, against just one turnover. In the last two season openers, Smith has 26 assists.
- Smith moved into 3rd place on the Big Ten’s career assists list (769), moving past Illinois’ Bruce Douglas. Smith now trails just Cassius Winston (890) and Mateen Cleaves (816).
- Jack Benter earned his first career start and responded with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and one block in 22 minutes of action.