No. 3 Purdue tops Wisconsin for strong close to regular season

Field Level Media|published: Sun 10th March, 15:21 2024

Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) high-fives Purdue Boilermakers guard Lance Jones (55) during the NCAA men's basketball game against the Wisconsin Badgers, Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. credits: Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Zach Edey celebrated his Senior Day on Sunday with 25 points and 14 rebounds as No. 3 Purdue tuned up for the Big Ten Conference tournament with a 78-70 win over Wisconsin in the teams' regular-season finale in West Lafayette, Ind.

Fletcher Loyer didn't miss a shot — 5 of 5 from the field, two 3-pointers, 3 of 3 from the foul line — and added 15 points for Purdue. Lance Jones scored 13 and Braden Smith contributed a 10-point, 10-assist double-double.

The Boilermakers (28-3, 17-3) shot 49.1 percent from the field and 9 of 18 on 3-pointers in winning their fifth straight game and for the 14th time in the past 15 contests.

John Blackwell came off the bench to score 18 points for the Badgers (19-12, 11-9), while Tyler Wahl added 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. AJ Storr chipped in 17 points but made just 6 of 15 attempts from the field.

Wisconsin couldn't find the range from the 3-point line, going just 5 of 24, and ended the day shooting 43.5 percent from the floor. The team also was outrebounded 37-28 and gave up 14 fast-break points.

Still, the Badgers were in contention most of the day despite leading for just 18 seconds. Blackwell drilled a corner 3 with 9:39 left in the game to pull them to 58-54, and they trailed just 68-62 when Wahl made a mid-range jumper at the 4:42 mark.

But Loyer connected on a 3-pointer with 3:45 remaining to kick off a game-clinching 10-0 spurt that featured Edey's last points in Mackey Arena, a pair of free throws with 1:55 on the clock. He and other seniors were subbed out for the last time in the final minute as the sellout crowd roared.

Purdue kept Wisconsin at arm's length throughout the first half despite dealing with foul trouble and minor ankle injuries that sent Edey and Smith to the bench for short stretches.

Jones started a 12-2 run early with consecutive 3-pointers, and Edey made a putback for a 25-13 advantage at the 9:57 mark. The Boilermakers took a 44-33 cushion into halftime after making 53.6 percent of their field goals.

—Field Level Media

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