No. 17-Ranked Purdue Tops Butler in Crossroads Classic 82-67
#BoilerNotes
• Purdue improved to 11-2 on the season with an 82-67 win over Butler in the Crossroads Classic … Purdue is now 2-5 in the annual event, but was won its last two games in the Crossroads Classic (86-81 last year over Notre Dame).
• Purdue has now won 14 straight games in the month of December … its last loss came in the 2015 Crossroads Classic against Butler on Dec. 19, 2015.
• Purdue snapped a five-game losing skid to Butler with the victory … Purdue’s last win over Butler came on Dec. 19, 1998.
• Purdue has won six straight games against in-state opponents and hasn’t lost to a team from Indiana since Feb. 20, 2016 (a span of 665 days).
• The win was Purdue’s nation’s-best sixth win over Top-60 opponents (KenPom.com) … Texas A&M is second with four.
• Purdue is now 11-2 (or better) for the sixth time during the Matt Painter era (2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09).
• Purdue’s 10 blocked shots were the most since Feb. 9, 2016, against Michigan State (11) … Purdue now has 78 blocked shots on the season after having 87 all of last season.
• Purdue’s starting five scored in double-figures for the third time this season (Maryland, Tennessee, Butler).
• Purdue improved to 95-10 under Matt Painter when scoring 80 or more points.
• Ryan Cline became the fourth active Boilermaker with 100 career 3-pointers (Vincent Edwards, Dakota Mathias, P.J. Thompson).
• Dakota Mathias made a 3-pointer in his 19th straight game.
• Vincent Edwards has scored in double-figures in all 13 games this year … he surpassed 1,300 career points in the victory.
• P.J. Thompson recorded a career-high four steals, surpassing 100 career steals in the victory.
• Purdue improved to 24-4 all-time when Carsen Edwards scores 10 or more points.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Carsen Edwards scored 18 points, Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas had 15 apiece, and No. 17 Purdue beat Butler 82-67 on Saturday for its second win in the seven-year history of the Crossroads Classic.
The Boilermakers (11-2) never trailed on the way to their first win in the series in nearly two decades. Purdue had lost five in a row to Butler since its previous victory over the Bulldogs on Dec. 19, 1998.
Kelan Martin had 17 points for the Bulldogs (8-3), who went into the annual classic in Indianapolis with a five-game winning streak, including their best offensive showing of the year in a 95-67 win over Youngstown State a week ago. Paul Jorgensen finished with 15 points and eight boards.
Ryan Cline’s 3-pointer with 6 seconds left in the first period gave Purdue a 35-19 halftime lead. The Boilermakers then opened the second half with a 9-2 run and opened a 44-21 advantage on Vincent Edwards’ three-point play with 17:36 remaining.
The Bulldogs went on a late run and cut the deficit to nine when Jorgensen hit a 3-pointer with 3:01 left.
BIG PICTURE
Butler: Dropped to 5-2 in the Crossroads Classic. The Bulldogs’ only other loss in the event came against Indiana in 2014.
Purdue: Matt Painter got his first win against Butler as a head coach. He was 0-4 against the Bulldogs prior to Saturday’s victory.
UP NEXT
Butler stays home for three of the next four games beginning with Morehead State on Tuesday.
Purdue closes out the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule at home against Tennessee State on Thursday.