Purdue basketball cruises past Minnesota in Big Ten opener

Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) fights for the rebound against Minnesota Gophers froward Pharrel Payne during the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Minnesota Gophers, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) fights for the rebound against Minnesota Gophers froward Pharrel Payne during the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Minnesota Gophers, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
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WEST LAFAYETTE - No. 5 Purdue improved to 8-0, winning its Big Ten opener in Mackey Arena Sunday afternoon.

The Boilermakers used a late first-half run to get separation and never looked back in a 89-70 win over Minnesota (4-4).

Purdue played without starter Mason Gillis, who suffered a minor back injury while lifting. There's no timetable on his return.

3 stars

Zach Edey, Purdue: It was a rough start for the 7-foot-4 Canadian. after a 1-for-6 shooting effort early, Edey took over the game. By halftime, he had 16 points and 12 rebounds in just 16 minutes. The junior center continues to dominate in the paint and finished with an absurd 31 points and 22 rebounds.

Fletcher Loyer, Purdue: The Fort Wayne native and freshman guard drained a 3 for Purdue's first points of the game and ended with five first-half assists. Loyer's fearlessness to attack the basket in the second half kept Minnesota from cutting into the large deficit. Loyer finished with 20 points and eight assists.

Brandon Newman, Purdue: The redshirt junior was a spark off the bench, hitting a few key shots, the biggest a long two just inside the arch that ignited Purdue's offense in the first half. Newman scored 13 points in 20 minutes.

Key moment of the game

Purdue led 21-15. Edey scored. Then Trey Kaufman-Renn, who was a huge spark with Caleb Furst in first-half foul trouble, dunked. Edey scored again and when Newman hit a long jumper just inside the 3-point line, Mackey Arena erupted and that only only grew louder after Loyer and Newman 3s followed, all part of a 21-5 run in a span of less than six minutes.

Key stat of the game

Rebounds. It helps having a 7-foot-4 monster in the middle, but Kaufman-Renn was solid off the bench. David Jenkins Jr. was able to elevate for three in limited minutes as well. Edey's 22 rebounds were more than Minnesota's entire team (21). Purdue finished with 41 boards.

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

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball cruises past Minnesota in Big Ten opener