Dec 5, 2024; College Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard CJ Cox (0) shoots the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Freddie Dilione V (4) defends through the second half at Bryce Jordan Heart. Penn State defeated Purdue 81-70. Obligatory Credit score: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Pictures No. 8 Purdue will face one of many Huge Ten’s most harmful unranked squads Sunday afternoon when convention foe Maryland visits West Lafayette, Ind.
The Terrapins (8-1, 1-0) coasted via their non-conference schedule earlier than overwhelming Ohio State 83-59 of their Huge Ten opener Wednesday in Faculty Park, Md., for his or her fifth straight victory.
Maryland dominated the Buckeyes from the opening tip, surging to a 50-17 halftime lead and pushing the margin to 40 factors early within the second half.
“(We needed to) come out and make an announcement,” stated Terrapins reserve ahead Tafara Gapare, who completed with 12 factors on 5-of-7 capturing from the ground. “Inform individuals who we’re and what we’re doing this season.”
Up to now, the Terrapins have been doing what they struggled to do final yr: Put up factors.
Maryland has averaged 86.8 factors per sport throughout non-conference play this season, up from 72.2 a yr in the past. The Terrapins’ 83 factors on Wednesday have been greater than they scored in any of their 21 Huge Ten video games final season.
“We predict it ought to appear like that night-in and night-out, however it won’t, so we’re simply going to maintain taking part in arduous and attempt to make it appear like that,” guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie stated.
Gillespie led Maryland with 23 factors and drilled 4 3-pointers on Wednesday. The Belmont switch averages 13.7 factors per sport, second on the staff behind freshman Derik Queen (16.6).
Gapare is capturing 16-of-23 (69.6 p.c) over his final three video games after taking simply 9 pictures throughout his first six video games.
The Boilermakers (7-2, 0-1), in the meantime, have been on the improper finish of an announcement win Thursday, falling 81-70 at Penn State. Purdue dedicated 24 turnovers, its most in a sport since November 2019. These errors led to 32 factors by the Nittany Lions.
“We had guys driving to their weak hand after they should not be, we had guys catching the ball within the publish and simply being free with the basketball,” Boilermakers coach Matt Painter stated. ” … We simply should have a greater focus and a greater toughness about us.”
Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer paced Purdue with 15 factors apiece. They lead the Boilermakers with averages of 18.7 and 13.9 factors per sport, respectively.
Braden Smith, who’s third on the staff in scoring at 12.0, was held to 6 factors.
Thursday’s consequence was not fairly a stunner — Penn State additionally has established itself as one of many Huge Ten’s most harmful groups — however Painter had no endurance for Purdue’s effort degree as the sport grew out of hand.
“If we have been on the entrance line of a battle (on Thursday), we would all be lifeless,” he stated. “Our battle wasn’t even near Penn State’s battle.”
The loss additionally was a step again for a Boilermakers staff that regarded as if it had discovered its kind after a productive non-conference slate. Purdue toppled then-No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 15 and added a win over then-No. 23 Ole Miss two weeks later.
“Success will mess with you,” Painter stated. “Failure is one thing {that a} aggressive individual at all times responds to. However are you able to compete (and) focus after you have had some success right here and never let that weaken you? ” … I’ve to do a greater job of getting them prepared.”
–Area Stage Media