- No. 5 Purdue moved to 24-4 overall and 13-4 in the Big Ten with an 84-72 win over Rutgers in front of a sellout crowd of 14,084 fans at Mackey Arena – the 40th straight sellout at Mackey Arena.
- The Boilermakers snapped a four-game losing streak against the Scarlet Knights, their third-longest active losing streak against a single opponent. Purdue moved to 13-5 in the series with Rutgers, 7-1 when played at Mackey Arena. Purdue also snapped Rutgers' four-game winning streak against ranked opponents.
- Purdue has won nine of its last 10 games after starting the Big Ten season with a 4-3 record. After starting 1-2, it has won 12 of its last 14 games.
- Purdue's 24-4 record marks their best 28-game start during the Matt Painter era, matching their best 28-game start since the 1987-88 season (26-2). Purdue also started 24-4 in 2009-10, 1995-96, 1993-94 and 1986-87. Purdue earned a No. 1 seed in three of the seasons (1995-96, 1993-94, 1987-88).
- Through Sunday's games, Purdue's 24 victories are tied for third nationally (Murray State – 26; South Dakota State – 25).
- Purdue is 100-11 in the last 111 games played at Mackey Arena.
- Purdue's seven turnovers matched a season low in turnovers (Feb. 5th vs. Michigan).
- Purdue is 26-10 in Big Ten play since the start of last season.
- In its last four games (including Rutgers), Purdue has a chance to avenge three losses (Rutgers, Wisconsin, Indiana).
- Purdue shot 53.1 percent from the field, the 16th time this season that the Boilermakers have shot over 50 percent (third most nationally). Purdue is 19-0 when shooting at least 48.0 percent from the field, having won 24 straight games.
- Purdue is now 6-0 on Sundays and 23-1 on all days other than Thursday (1-3).
- Purdue is 142-17 since the start of the 2014-15 season when attempting more free throws than its opponents. The Boilermakers outshot the Scarlet Knights 29-17 from the free throw line.
- Purdue 146-12 under Painter when scoring at least 80 points, including 60-2 since the start of the 2017-18 season.
- Purdue is 138-15 under Painter when winning the rebound and turnover battles in the same game. The Boilermakers outrebounded the Scarlet Knights 27-25, and registered four less turnovers (11-7).
- The Boilermakers have won 26 straight games when leading at halftime and since the start of the 2016-17 season, Purdue is 118-12 when leading at the intermission.
- Five Boilermakers recorded double-digit scoring performances. Jaden Ivey led the team in points with 25 and tallied 4 assists.
- Ivey shot 15-for-18 from the free throw line, career highs for both free throws made and attempted. His 15 made free throws were the most for a Purdue player since Willie Deane made 17 on Jan. 29, 2003, vs. Ohio State.
- Zach Edey and Trevion Williams combined for 26 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and only 2 turnovers.
- Zach Edey surpassed JaJuan Johnson for the second most dunks on the season in program history (50).
- Sasha Stefanovic tied Chad Austin for eighth most career 3-pointers with 212. Stefanovic went 3-for-7 from long range.
- Purdue improved to 10-1 during his career when Mason Gillis scores 10 or more points (10 points, 5 rebounds).
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- For Purdue coach Matt Painter, Jaden Ivey's ability to break down the defense was the difference.
Ivey scored 25 points, Zach Edey added 15 points and No. 5 Purdue beat Rutgers 84-72 on Sunday, ending the Scarlet Knights' recent run of success against ranked teams.
Rutgers had won its last four games, all against teams in the Top 25.
The Boilermakers stopped the string as Ivey did much of his scoring at the line, hitting 15 of 18 free throws. Trevion Williams and Sasha Stefanovic each scored 11 points and Mason Gillis 10 points for Purdue (24-4, 13-4 Big Ten).
Zach Edey and Trevion Williams were a combined 10-of-14 from the field with Edey making 5 of 6 shots.
"I think teams know if they play us 1-on-1, there is high chance we're going to score," Williams said. "It's all about making the other team make a decision. You are either going to play us 1-on-1 or you are going to sink in and we'll dish it out to our shooters. It's been working for us to go inside out."
Paul Mulcahy scored 15, Clifford Omoruyi added 14, Ron Harper Jr. had 12 points and Geo Baker 11 points for Rutgers (16-10, 10-6).
"We were trying to push the lead," Ivey said. "We didn't want it to get close at all. We just played great team basketball today. We made plays down the stretch. They were pressing us the whole game. I felt were patient and we took what they gave us."
Painter said balance was key.
"We had the balance of driving the basketball and make enough 3s," Painter said. "We had some open ones you like to see go down. We just kept trying to execute, We outrebounded them and had fewer turnovers than them at their place and still lost. Tonight we had outrebounded them and fewer turnovers and won. If you do that you have a chance and it helps when you can make some shots. We made enough tonight.'
The Boilermakers closed the first half with a 9-1 run to take a 45-36 lead, then opened the second half by scoring the first 11 points. Purdue held Rutgers scoreless for nearly five minutes in pushing the lead to 56-36.
For the game, Purdue shot 53% while Rutgers shot 51%. The big difference was Purdue had a 19-4 edge in points off turnovers. Rutgers had 11 turnovers, four more than Purdue. The Boilermakers also made 24 of 29 free throws to Rutgers' 13 of 17.
BIG PICTURE
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights saw their string of four consecutive victories over ranked opponents end — they beat Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois during that streak. Despite some disappointing non-conference losses, Rutgers has put itself back on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Rutgers had upset then-No. 1 Purdue 70-68 on Dec. 9 as Harper sank a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Purdue: The Boilermakers moved a half-game ahead of Wisconsin (12-4) and Illinois (12-4) in the Big Ten standings. The Boilermakers close with road games at Michigan State and Wisconsin and home against Indiana.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
With No. 2 Auburn losing to unranked Florida and No. 4 Kentucky losing to No. 16 Tennessee, No. 5 Purdue could move up in the rankings with two victories on the week.