Boilermakers Make Statement with Win over No. 25 Indiana
#BoilerNotes
- Purdue improved to 12-6 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten with a 70-55 victory over Indiana in sold-out Mackey Arena on Saturday … the win was Purdue’s third in a row … Purdue is now 5-2 (or better) in the Big Ten for the fourth straight year.
- Purdue has won four straight against Indiana, two of them coming by at least 11 points … Purdue has won seven of the last eight games against Indiana – the first 7-1 streak for either team since 1972 – 76 … four of the seven wins have come by at least 11 points … without Cody Zeller, Purdue is 12-1 against Indiana since the 2008-09 season.
- Purdue now owns a 119-89 series advantage against Indiana – the only Big Ten team with a winning record against Indiana.
- Indiana’s 55 points were the fewest against Purdue since Feb. 8, 2011, a 67-53 Purdue victory.
- Purdue has won 10 straight home games against in-state foes, dating to Jan. 30, 2013 – almost six years … just one of the games has come by single-digits.
- Purdue has now won 11 straight home games dating to last year … the streak is one of three streaks in the Big Ten of 10 or longer.
- With the Paint Crew in attendance, Purdue is 49-2 over its last 51 games (second semester of the 2014-15 seaon) … Purdue is now 57-4 at Mackey Arena since the start of the 2015-16 season … Purdue owns a Big Ten-best 36-4 mark against Big Ten opponents since the start of the 2014-15 season.
- Purdue had 11 turnovers, the first time since Dec. 6, 2018, vs. Maryland that Purdue had more than 10 turnovers.
- Purdue is now 142-15 under Matt Painter when shooting at least 48.0 percent from the field … the Boilermakers shot 49.1 percent in the victory … Purdue has won 15 straight games when shooting a higher percentage than its opponent.
- Purdue is now 138-5 under Matt Painter when holding foes to 59 or fewer points … Purdue has held its last two foes to 54.5 points per game in the last two games.
- Carsen Edwards tallied 20 points, a season-high seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in the win … Edwards has scored 10+ points in 38 straight games … it marked his 14th 20-point game of the season (29th of career).
- Point guard Nojel Eastern scored 10 points with 10 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot to record his first career double-double … Eastern also held the Big Ten’s leading scorer Romeo Langford to just four points on 2 of 10 shooting … Langford’s first points came with 19:18 left in the game … Langford also had three turnovers in just 22 minutes of action … his previous season low of 12 points came in the second game of the season against Montana State … he had scored at least 15 points in five straight games entering today’s game … Langford had averaged 18.8 points per game (overall) and 21.3 points per game in Big Ten play entering today.
- Matt Haarms tallied 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting … he added four rebounds, a career-high four assists and two blocked shots.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –Â It was a black out in Mackey Arena, and Purdue played lights out in knocking out Indiana, 70-55, on a snowy day in West Lafayette.
Indiana had little chance on this snowy day in West Lafayette vs. a hot Purdue squad that was coming off a home rout of Rutgers. Purdue led by just seven at halftime (33-26), but the Boilermakers turned this into a laugher in the second half with some hot shooting.
Don’t look now, but the Boilermakers (12-6 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten) are one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, winners of six of seven. If you are scoring at home—and we know you are—that is four losses in a row for IU, which has dropped seven of the last eight to Purdue. That is the first 7-1 streak for any team in this series since 1972-76. Amazing.
The Boilermakers have Nojel Eastern to thank. The sophomore is famous for his defense. The Evanston, Illinois, native didn’t disappoint, blanketing star Hoosier freshman Romeo Langford all game. Eastern held the McDonald’s All-American to four points on 2-of-10 shooting with three turnovers.
Eastern didn’t stop there. Time and again, he drove to the hoop for bucket—or he dished off—looking like a linebacker driving the lane with his muscular 6-foot, 6-inch frame. Indiana had no answer. The result: Eastern’s first career double-double, as he had 10 points and 10 boards. That was a nice complement to Carsen Edwards, who scored a game-high 20 points with seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in a fine all-around performance.
Credit Matt Haarms, too. He was an underrated star on this day. Purdue needed the wiry Dutchman to play extended minutes as Trevion Williams was saddled with early foul trouble. Haarms responded by notching 12 points, four rebounds and a career-high four assists while also battling IU star big man Juwan Morgan.
Up next for the Boilermakers is a trip to Ohio State on Wednesday followed by a visit from Michigan State on Jan. 27.