Braden Smith leads the way as No. 3 Purdue basketball hammers Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS − Braden Smith introduced himself to the Minnesota.

Through 18 career college games, Purdue's freshman point guard averaged 9.4 points and had scored four in all but one contest.

The Golden Gophers held Smith scoreless on 0 of 4 shooting last month in Mackey Arena.

On Thursday night in Williams Arena, Smith scored the game's first basket, catapulting Indiana's 2022 Mr. Basketball to an all-around performance where he led No. 3 Purdue over Minnesota 61-39.

More:Legend of Purdue center Zach Edey grows with game winner at Michigan State

3 stars

Braden Smith, Purdue: Smith was on pace for a triple-double at halftime with nine points, six rebounds and five assists. He'd fall just short, but collected 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a blowout road victory. His point total was one off his career high and the seven assists matched a career-high set against Penn State 11 days earlier.

Zach Edey, Purdue: It wasn't what we'd come to expect from Edey, but after Purdue's 7-4 center imposed his will against Minnesota with 31 points and 22 rebounds at Mackey Arena, the Gophers had to do something different and did. Edey turned the ball over three times with the defense swarming him, but still gave the Boilers 12 points (all in the first half), six rebounds and four blocks.

Caleb Furst, Purdue: While Edey didn't have his usual night on the glass, Furst was the beneficiary. The 2021 Indiana Mr. Basketball was active around the rim all night and collected six points and nine rebounds in addition to blocking a Minnesota dunk attempt.

Key moment

Minnesota went on scoreless spells during is 12-point first half of 2:51, 5:49, 2:04 and 6:29.

By halftime, Purdue already led by 19 points and it was cruise control throughout the second half.

Key stat

Minnesota was shooting 43.4 percent at Williams Arena this season and 42.2 percent overall.

The Gophers couldn't get going against Purdue's defense, going just 5 of 24 from the field and scoring 12 points in the first half. The Gophers finished at 31.5 percent shooting after some late success against Purdue's second unit.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

No. 3 Purdue 61, Minnesota 39

PURDUE (17-1): Furst 2-4 2-2 6, Edey 6-9 0-1 12, Loyer 3-10 0-0 6, Morton 1-4 0-0 3, Smith 8-13 0-0 19, Gillis 3-6 0-0 7, Newman 3-7 0-0 8, Jenkins 0-2 0-0 0, Kaufman-Renn 0-2 0-0 0, Waddell 0-1 0-0 0, Barrett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 2-3 61.

MINNESOTA (7-9): Battle 0-9 0-0 0, Garcia 3-13 1-1 7, Ola-Joseph 6-11 1-1 13, Cooper 2-7 0-2 4, Samuels 2-4 1-1 6, Payne 2-4 0-0 4, Henley 2-6 0-0 5, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Ramberg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-54 3-5 39.

Halftime—Purdue 31-12. 3-Point Goals_Purdue 7-16 (Smith 3-5, Newman 2-3, Morton 1-2, Gillis 1-3, Jenkins 0-1, Loyer 0-2), Minnesota 2-10 (Henley 1-1, Samuels 1-3, Garcia 0-2, Battle 0-4). Rebounds_Purdue 38 (Furst 9), Minnesota 26 (Garcia, Samuels 6). Assists_Purdue 18 (Smith 7), Minnesota 9 (Cooper, Payne, Henley 2). Total Fouls_Purdue 10, Minnesota 12.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball vs. Minnesota: Braden Smith, Zach Edey lead Boilers