Purdue Boilermakers Triumph Over Michigan State to Secure Share of Big Ten Title – Sky Bulletin

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On an exhilarating Saturday night in West Lafayette, No. 2 Purdue, led by the remarkable Zach Edey who scored 32 points and snagged 11 rebounds, along with Braden Smith’s contribution of 23 points and nine boards, achieved a victory over Michigan State with a final score of 80-74. This win granted them a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship.

The Mackey Arena’s atmosphere was electric as the Boilermakers celebrated their 26th Big Ten title, the most by any team in the conference. With one more triumph in their ensuing games, Purdue (26-3, 15-3) would clinch the outright regular-season title consecutively, a feat last accomplished by Ohio State in 2006-2007.

Struggling with a shooting percentage of only 39%, Michigan State (17-12, 9-9) faced their third consecutive loss despite Tyson Walker contributing 14 points and seven boards, with Jaden Akins at 13 points, Malik Hall with 12, and Xavier Booker scoring 11.

Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer added an important 15 points, which helped the Boilermakers extend their impressive home-win streak to 16 games.

The Boilermakers established a solid 15-point lead facilitated by Edey’s three-point play with 14:26 on the clock. However, the Spartans responded aggressively. A pivotal 3-pointer from A.J. Hoggard cut the lead to 58-55, causing Purdue’s coach Matt Painter to call a timeout with 9:13 left. Following the timeout, Smith netted a 3, allowing Purdue to maintain their advantage until the end. Michigan State couldn’t shrink the gap to less than five in the last three minutes. Later, Mason Gillis hit a 3-pointer with 56.3 seconds left, boosting Purdue’s lead to 77-69.

With Edey’s scoring surge of eight points in a little over two minutes resulting in a 35-30 lead for Purdue, Michigan State’s coach Tom Izzo felt compelled to call a timeout. Smith’s subsequent 3-pointer increased their advantage, capping off the first half with Purdue in the lead at 38-35 after Walker’s buzzer-beater 3.

BIG PICTURE

Michigan State: The Spartans’ consecutive losses at Mackey Arena now total seven, a challenging venue for any visiting team. This defeat won’t significantly impact their NET rankings, where they were placed 24th before the game. However, the Spartans’ historic 25-year NCAA Tournament streak could be vulnerable unless they win one of their last two regular-season fixtures.

Purdue: The Boilermakers, seemingly on course to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year, boast the most Quad 1 wins in the nation. Purdue also holds a commanding 6-0 record against current AP Top 25 teams, with wins against notable competitors such as No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Marquette, No. 6 Arizona, No. 13 Illinois, No. 14 Alabama, and No. 23 Gonzaga.

UP NEXT

Michigan State: The Spartans will be hosting Northwestern on Wednesday night, seeking to redeem their 88-74 defeat earlier in the year.

Purdue: The Boilermakers look forward to their last road game of the season against Illinois on Tuesday night.

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In a pivotal Big Ten matchup, No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers prevailed over Michigan State, continuing their dominant performance this season. The victory showcased the team’s deep roster and its ability to execute under pressure, keeping their sights on an outright Big Ten title and a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Fans and analysts will be closely watching Purdue’s progress as they remain a formidable force in college basketball.



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