The Purdue Boilermakers clinched a historic 92-84 win over No. 1-ranked Arizona Wildcats last Saturday in the men's college basketball second matchup at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
With this win, the Boilermakers have officially won their first game against a top-ranked team in 23 years. Leading the charge were Purdue's star guards, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith. Both Loyer and Smith contributed 27 and 26 points, respectively.
As of Saturday, Purdue's record has propelled to 10-1. Meanwhile, Arizona's standing dropped to 8-1. The match at Indianapolis was highly anticipated by many and drew a capacity crowd of 17,923 spectators.
The Boilermakers will have a week to rest before facing the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (4-5) on December 30. Early in January next year, Purdue will also face the Maryland Terrapins, currently at a 2-3 record.
Loyer, Smith led Purdue
Dynamic duo Loyer and Smith played key roles in the team's momentous triumph. The teams exchanged blows, and the game was tied 17-17 at 11:47 in the first half.
Loyer showcased his early prowess with seven points, including a 3-pointer, while Keshad Johnson emerged as Arizona's main scorer with nine points.
As the first half progressed, the lead continued to change hands. With 4:46 left, Loyer caught fire for Purdue, sinking back-to-back 3-pointers and accumulating 16 points in the game. Purdue took a 10-point lead just before halftime, with Smith making a critical 3-pointer.
At the halftime break, Purdue held a 49-38 lead, with both teams shooting well at 57 percent. Loyer led the Boilermakers with 18 points, closely followed by Smith with 14 points.
Purdue maintained its momentum in the second half. At the 15:09 mark, Loyer stayed hot, contributing to Purdue's 67-52 lead. Despite a brief resurgence from Arizona, Purdue held a 6-point lead with 6:31 left, with Zach Edey making a crucial layup.
At one point, Purdue struggled to score against Arizona's 2-3 zone defense. However, they managed to keep control of the game with Loyer's 27 points and timely contributions from Smith.
As the clock winded down, Purdue secured the win with a final score of 92-84. Lance Jones and Smith made crucial 3-pointers in the closing minutes, further distancing Purdue from Arizona. The Boilermakers finished the game with an impressive 42 percent success rate from beyond the arc, making 10 of 24 attempts.
Two more undefeated teams fall
Before losing to Purdue, Arizona had a flawless 8-0 record. The Wildcats' victories included three against other top-ranked teams. Additionally, they had never allowed opponents to score more than 73 points in any match before.
Similarly, two other undefeated teams also experienced setbacks on Saturday. Following a pattern similar to the Wildcats, No. 6 Baylor Bears visited the Michigan State Spartans at Little Caesar's Arena. The Bears lost 88-64. The loss dropped Baylor's record to 9-1.
Next in line at the gallows was the Clemson Tigers, who initiated a commendable start on the road against a formidable Memphis Tigers side.
Clemson surged ahead by as much as 10 points early on. But the early surge wasn't enough. The Tigers eventually lost by 2 points at 79-77. They are now 9-1.
