Purdue 68, Valparaiso 61 (Postgame Notes)
Zach Edey's free throws with 6:48 remaining gave Purdue (3-1) a 54-53 lead — its first lead since 3-2 with just over two minutes gone. Thompson extended the lead to 58-53 with a free throw and a 3-pointer and made four more from the line in the last 51 seconds to secure the comeback.
Valparaiso (0-3), which hadn't beaten Purdue since 1965, leapt out to a 34-23 halftime lead thanks to 55% shooting and deadeye 3-point shooting from Jacob Ognacevich (3-for-3) and Donovan Clay (2-for-2).
Stefanovic, who scored 16 after halftime, opened the second half with a 3-pointer and, 10 minutes later drained another 3 that cut the Valpo lead to 49-48. The Boilermakers defense toughened, dropping Valpo's shooting percentage to 31% in the second half.
A nearly four-minute scoring drought did in the Crusaders. Ognacevich was held to three points after halftime and finished with 12. Nick Robinson scored 15.
- Purdue improved to 3-1 overall with a 68-61 win over Valparaiso on Friday night.
- The win was Purdue's 12th straight against Valparaiso, the longest-active streak against a single opponent. Purdue is now 17-1 all-time against Valparaiso.
- The victory was Purdue's sixth straight win at Mackey Arena against non-conference opposition.
- Purdue is now 14-2 against in-state opponents since the start of the 2016-17 season.
- Purdue's 11-point comeback was its largest since a 13-point, second-half rally vs. Minnesota on Feb. 3, 2019.
- Purdue recorded season lows in points (68), field goal percentage (.352), 3-point percentage (.261) and 3-pointers made (6). Purdue did turn the ball over a season-low nine times.
- Through four games, Purdue has allowed just 25 offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points.
- The win was Purdue's 300th all-time win at Mackey Arena against non-conference foes (300-38).
- Purdue's 37 free throw attempts were its most attempts since having 43 against Missouri on Nov. 25, 2014.
- Isaiah Thompson has had zero turnovers in three of four games this season. His 14 points tied for the second most in a game during his career.
- Trevion Williams recorded his 11th career double-double with a 17-point, 11-rebound effort. Williams has had at least 11 rebounds in three of four games this year and is now averaging a double-double on the season (10.5 PPG, 11.0 RPG).
- Sasha Stefanovic scored 19 points with three rebounds and three assists, scoring 16 of his 19 points in the second half. He connected on four 3-pointers and has made at least two 3-pointers in every game this year, shooting 15-of-27 (.556) from long range.
Zach Edey's free throws with 6:48 remaining gave Purdue (3-1) a 54-53 lead — its first lead since 3-2 with just over two minutes gone. Thompson extended the lead to 58-53 with a free throw and a 3-pointer and made four more from the line in the last 51 seconds to secure the comeback.
Valparaiso (0-3), which hadn't beaten Purdue since 1965, leapt out to a 34-23 halftime lead thanks to 55% shooting and deadeye 3-point shooting from Jacob Ognacevich (3-for-3) and Donovan Clay (2-for-2).
Stefanovic, who scored 16 after halftime, opened the second half with a 3-pointer and, 10 minutes later drained another 3 that cut the Valpo lead to 49-48. The Boilermakers defense toughened, dropping Valpo's shooting percentage to 31% in the second half.
A nearly four-minute scoring drought did in the Crusaders. Ognacevich was held to three points after halftime and finished with 12. Nick Robinson scored 15.