No. 13-Ranked Purdue Wins 10th Straight With Victory over Rutgers 82-51
#BoilerNotes
• Purdue improved to 14-2 overall with an 82-51 win over Rutgers … Purdue is now 9-1 all-time against Rutgers having won seven straight games against the Scarlet Knights … the seven wins have come by an average of 22.9 points per game … the seven-game streak is the fifth-longest win streak against a single opponent.
• Purdue is 3-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since starting 4-0 during the 2010-11 season … Purdue is 3-0 in league play under Painter for just the second time in 13 years.
• Entering the game, Rutgers allowed just three teams to reach 70 points.
• Purdue has won three straight games by 30 or more points for the first time in 120 seasons of Purdue basketball.
• Purdue has won nine straight games at home against Big Ten opposition … eight of the wins have come by double-digits.
• Purdue has scored 80-plus points in six straight games for the first time since Dec. 6 to 27, 1997.
• Purdue has won 10 straight games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in America … it marks the fifth double-digit win streak during the Painter era.
• Purdue won its 17th straight home game, the fifth-longest streak in Mackey Arena history and the fifth-longest home court win streak in America.
• Purdue is now 14-2 or better for the 10th time in school history and for the fourth time under Matt Painter.
• Purdue has allowed teams to average just 60.8 points per game during the 10-game win streak.
• Purdue is now 26-3 since the start of the 2014-15 season at home against Big Ten opposition.
• Purdue has won 21-of-41 games since the start of last year by 20 or more points … it’s the second-most times nationally (Gonzaga — 31).
• Purdue has won 40 straight games when holding foes to 59 or fewer points and is now 130-4 under Painter when doing so.
• Purdue has shot at least 48.0 percent from the field in 12-of-16 games this year.
• Purdue’s senior class is now 56-6 at home during its career … the 56 wins are the fifth most by a class in school history.
• Purdue blocked its 100th shot of the season in the win over Rutgers.
• Purdue is 37-of-76 (.487) from 3-point range in the last three games.
• Rutgers entered the game ranked 28th nationally in rebound margin (+7.5) … Purdue was plus-18 (45-27) on the glass … Rutgers was second nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15.9), but had just six against the Boilermakers.
• Isaac Haas led five players in double figures with 14 points and six rebounds.
• Dakota Mathias moved into sixth place on the school’s career 3-pointers made list (195) … Purdue is now 34-6 when he scores in double figures … Mathias surpassed 900 career points in the victory.
• Carsen Edwards scored 12 points with five rebounds and four assists … Purdue is 27-4 during his career when he scores 10-plus points.
• Ryan Cline scored 12 points with a career-high six rebounds … Cline went 4-of-6 from 3-point range and over the last seven games, is 18-of-29 (.621) from 3-point range.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Purdue coach Matt Painter first started using his two 7-foot centers together as an experiment.
On Wednesday night, he went with them out of necessity. If Isaac Haas and Matt Haarmscontinue playing this well in tandem, they could become a big staple for the defending Big Ten champions.
Haas scored 14 points and Harams grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots, leading the 13th-ranked Boilermakers to an 82-51 rout over Rutgers for their 10th straight win.
”I like it because it provides a lot of length on defense,” said Haas, the 7-foot-2 senior. ”I think it allows us to get more spread out on defense. On offense, you have guys that are long rebounders that can go high-low. I just can’t wait to see how that develops the rest of the season.”
So far, it’s worked beautifully.
The Boilermakers (14-2, 3-0) have won 17 in a row at Mackey Arena and are the only Big Ten team with three conference wins. No. 1 Michigan State and Ohio State can join them Thursday.
And Haas and the 7-3 Haarms played a huge role in turning the tables on Rutgers, which was ranked No. 3 nationally in total rebounds and No. 4 in scoring defense.
But with Haas and Haarms dominating the middle, Purdue outscored Rutgers 28-14 in the paint and had a 45-27 rebound advantage, giving the Scarlet Knights no chance.
”I think all of their lineups cause problems,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. ”The two big guys do cause problems though each one is different. Haas is a monster down low and the other one is a good shot blocker.”
And the primary reason Painter went with the pairing was because starting forward Vincent Edwards was in foul trouble most of the night.
It wasn’t just the big men who got the job done for Purdue, which made 7 of 12 3-pointers in the first half and finished 10 of 23.
Geo Baker had 11 points to lead the Scarlet Knights (10-6, 0-3), who have lost three straight. Mike Williams added 10.
But the combination was simply too much for Rutgers’ young team.
The Boilermakers used an 8-0 run to take a 17-7 lead, later extended the margin to 32-17 and headed to the locker room with a 45-24 lead.
Rutgers got as close as 51-37 when Baker made Rutgers’ first 3 of the night with 13:27 left to play. Then Purdue answered with six straight and stretched the lead to as much as 33.
”For me, it’s more about learning how to play the 4 a little more,” Haarms said. ”When Coach tells me to go get Vince, I get a big smile on my face.”
BIG PICTURE
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights are improving but don’t possess the size, depth or scorers to seriously challenge a team like Purdue. And when things went awry Wednesday, Rutgers even lost its poise. With nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster, brighter days are ahead.
Purdue: Showed everyone why it could repeat this season. The Boilermakers can win games by playing big or small, they can outscore opponents, shut them down defensively and can play through foul trouble.
KEY NUMBERS
Rutgers: Freshman Mamadou Doucoure scored eight points before fouling out with 12:55 to go and then picked up a technical on his way to the bench. … The Scarlet Knights allowed their second-highest point total this season (89 at Minnesota). … The last time the Scarlet Knights beat a Top 25 team on the road was Jan. 26, 2008 at Pittsburgh.
Purdue: Carsen Edwards had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists while Ryan Cline had 12 points and Vincent Edwards added 10. … Purdue is 3-0 to start conference play for the first time since 2010-11 and is 13-0 on American soil this season. It went 1-2 in the Bahamas. … The Boilermakers have scored 80 points in six straight games for the first time since Dec. 6-27, 1997.
GETTING AHEAD
Purdue honored former star Steve Scheffler by handing out bobble heads before the game and having him speak to the crowd at halftime.
The 1990 Big Ten player of the year, captivated the audience with stories about his playing days and former coach Gene Keady, who also attended the game. But he didn’t mince words.
”I should not be a bobble head, I should be a knucklehead,” Scheffler joked. ”If they can make me a bobble head for throwing leather through metal, imagine what they can do with you.”
UP NEXT
Rutgers: Hosts Wisconsin on Friday.
Purdue: Faces Nebraska on Saturday at home.
