No. 18 Purdue's red-hot 3-point shooting sinks Rutgers in a dominating performance that left the Scarlet Knights reeling. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer each made a career-high seven 3-pointers while scoring 23 points apiece to lead No. 18 Purdue to a 100-71 trouncing of Rutgers in Big Ten play on Tuesday night at West Lafayette, Ind. This impressive display of outside shooting was the key factor that allowed Purdue to dictate the tempo of the game and never look back.
The Boilermakers came out hot from the tip, with Smith and Loyer setting the tone early. Their ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc stretched the Rutgers defense to the limit, creating opportunities for Purdue to attack the basket and get easy looks at the rim. As the game wore on, it became clear that Rutgers had no answer for Purdue's onslaught of 3-pointers, and the Boilermakers took full advantage, pushing their lead to as many as 29 points in the second half.
Trey Kaufman-Renn also played a significant role in Purdue's victory, providing a strong presence in the paint and helping to balance out the Boilermakers' offense. His ability to score, rebound, and defend allowed Purdue to maintain a high level of intensity on both ends of the floor, making it difficult for Rutgers to mount any semblance of a comeback.
The loss was a tough one for Rutgers, which struggled to find any consistency on offense. Despite their best efforts, the Scarlet Knights were unable to keep pace with Purdue's high-powered offense, and their defense was ultimately unable to contain the Boilermakers' potent combination of outside shooting and interior scoring.
For Purdue, the win was a significant one, as it helped to solidify their position in the Big Ten standings. The Boilermakers will look to build on this momentum as they continue through the conference schedule, and with their current level of play, they will undoubtedly be a tough opponent for any team they face. As for Rutgers, they will need to regroup and refocus in order to bounce back from this tough loss and get back on track in the competitive world of Big Ten basketball.