Boiler Up, Hoosiers Down: Purdue Out Scraps Indiana 81-76

Boilers used their experience and relied heavily on Smith and TKR to an important home victory against the Hoosiers

Every B1G game is a battle but when it comes against your in-state rival, you can throw out all the records and simply expect an absolute rock fight. That’s what the Boilers had to fight through against the Indiana Hoosiers on the way to an 81-76 win to kickstart the second half of the B1G season. Early on it did look like the Boilers may control the game much more than they did.

One of the conference’s best wings in Malik Reneau struggled early on and committed two fouls before the first media timeout. At the point, Purdue led 11-6 and seemed to be able to generate whatever looks they wanted to on offense but IU was able to score two quick buckets and it largely became a back and forth affair the rest of the game. Indiana was able to leverage their advantages early on as they dominated the first half on the glass, ending the game outrebounding Purdue 32-26.

Following a CJ Cox free throw, the Hoosiers were able to seize control on a strong 9-0 run to take a 36-29 run. It was a run that was a bit surprising given the Hoosiers’ struggles with turnovers as the Boilers forced 10 turnovers that led to 13 Purdue points. That first half was almost a complete reversal of what happened against Ohio State as Purdue got a momentum shifting fadeaway bucket from freshman Gicarri Harris just before the end of the half. The Boilers would be down just 41-37, tied for the most points given up in a first half this season (Auburn).

The Boilers quickly turned the game around to start the second half as it was very apparent they wanted to go directly at Ballo on the low post with TKR. He challenged the seven footer by going over and through one of the best interior defenders in the country. TKR started on a one man 7-0 run with it ending on a Reneau free throw. CJ Cox and Smith got buckets that led to an 11-1 run to give Purdue a 48-42 lead less than 3 minutes into the second half.

At that point, IU made some adjustments on defense and it was then that Smith started to hunt matchups to get himself or others the shots they needed. For a few possessions, that matchup was Mgbako in isolation where Smith often made him look like a very average defender. Smith would end the game with a team leading 24 points (11-21), 7 assists, and 6 steals. Those six steals highlight a game where Purdue snagged 13, just one behind their season high of 14 (Michigan). Smith’s January was so incredible, he becomes the first player this century to have 150+ points, 80+ assists, and 25+ steals in a single month.

At that point, it felt like Purdue had gained control of the game but some very questionable officiating cut the flow of the game. That poor officiating led to an 12-0 run while Purdue’s offense went scoreless over a span of 4:45. There were some very physical challenges at the rim for Boilermaker players that largely went uncalled while less contact was called for the Hoosiers on the other end. The Hoosiers couldn’t take advantage from the foul line as they went just 9-16 while the Boilers bounced back after a poor first half from the free throw line to go 21-28, largely hitting their free throws late in the second half to seal the game.

Late in the game, the Hoosiers made more adjustments and found Galloway as the initiator of the offense really put Purdue in poor situations. Galloway converted at a high rate as he challenged a foul plagued Boilermaker front line for 15 points on 7-10 shooting. More than that, Galloway was able to get into the paint and collapse the defense to find Mgbako. Mgbako would have 12 in the final 10:30 of the game and was the driving force behind that 12-0 Hoosier run that found them up 63-58. That lead would be pushed to 67-61 on a Galloway layup with 5:36 remaining.

It was at that point in the game where it looked very bleak for the Boilers as the Hoosiers had seemingly taken firm control of the game. The Boilers had one more run in them with an 11-3 run that was capped by a Fletcher Loyer floater ‘And 1’ to give Purdue a two point lead at 72-70 with 2:34 left. They wouldn’t hold the lead for very long as Galloway would hit back to back buckets off the action Purdue struggled to defend to turn a three point deficit for the Hoosiers into a one point lead with just 29 seconds left.

It was there that Purdue would put the game in the hands of TKR. With less than 15 seconds remaining, the Boilers next great interior player caught a post entry pass at the free throw line, got to the left elbow, spun over his left shoulder, and hit a hook shot from eight feet over Oumar Ballo to give the Boilers a 77-76 lead with just 11.9 seconds left.

The Hoosiers inbounded the ball quickly to Myles Rice who raced down the court. Harris quickly attempted to cut him off but Rice had a bit of an angle to the right side of the lane. Harris funneled him deep toward the endline and forced Rice into a difficult, contested jumper that he blocked into the waiting hands of TKR who pushed it to Loyer before he was fouled. That would be all that the Boilers would need as Loyer and TKR would end the game hitting two free throws a piece.

It was a typically Boilers and Hoosiers matchup that fans will remember for a long time on both sides. That was a game where the Hoosiers looked every part of the team many across college basketball thought they could be. In the end, the Boilers were able to battle through adversity and grab an important ninth win in the B1G and stay within reach of the Michigan State Spartans.

The Boilers will next square off against the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 4th in Iowa at 7:00pm before coming back to Mackey Arena to face USC on 2/7.