- Purdue improved to 20-1 overall and 9-1 at the halfway point of Big Ten play with a 75-70 win over Michigan at the Crisler Center. The win was Purdue's first at the Crisler Center since 2018.
- The win gave Purdue victories at Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
- Purdue is the first Big Team to start the season 20-1 in four years and a win over Michigan State on Sunday will enable Purdue to become the first Big Ten team to start 21-1 since the 2010-11 Ohio State team started 24-0.
- Purdue is now 6-0 on the road in Big Ten play and 7-0 on the road overall. Purdue's 6-0 road start is the Big Ten's best road start since the 2017-18 Boilermakers started league play 7-0 on the road.
- Purdue has been 9-1 in league play seven times in school history (2023, 2018, 2008, 1990, 1988, 1984, 1969).
- The seven road victories are the most by a power-conference team in the country.
- Purdue became the first power-conference team to win 20 games this season (third overall). It marks the second time in the last six years that Purdue became the first power-conference team with 20 victories (2017-18 season; Jan. 25 at Michigan).
- Purdue won its 40th straight game when scoring at least 70 points. Purdue and Saint Mary's are the only teams in the country to hold every opponent to 70 or fewer points.
- Purdue went 16-of-20 from the free throw line and over the last seven games, Purdue is shooting 80-of-96 (.833) from the free throw line.
- Purdue freshmen accounted for 35 of Purdue's 75 points, going 12-of-21 from the field and 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
- Zach Edey scored in double-figures for the 37th straight time, tallying 19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist. Edey moved into the Purdue top 15 for career rebounds (668) and top 20 for single-season rebounds (259).
- Fletcher Loyer scored 17 points with two rebounds and a steal.
- Braden Smith tallied 10 points with 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He surpassed the 200-point plateau and now needs just one rebound for 100 this season.
- Trey Kaufman-Renn scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting in just nine minutes of action.
- Purdue's bench outscored Michigan's bench by a 23-9 advantage.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Zach Edey had 15 of his 19 points in the first half and Fletcher Loyer finished with 17 points to help No. 1 Purdue hold off Michigan 75-70 on Thursday night.
The Boilermakers (20-1, 9-1 Big Ten) had a 15-0 run to go ahead 41-28 lead in the first half after there were 10 lead changes and four ties, but they couldn't pull away.
The Wolverines (11-9, 5-4) were without standout freshman Jett Howard, who missed the game with an ankle injury, and still hung around until the final seconds.
Joey Baker made a 3-pointer — off the glass — with 5.9 seconds left to pull Michigan within three points, but Purdue's Brandon Newman sealed the victory with two free throws.
Purdue coach Matt Painter said Michigan slowed down Edey in the second half by pushing him away from the basket.
"They got him out a little more, and got him bottled up," Painter said.
The 7-foot-4 Edey, though, was too tough to stop early in the game.
"He's one of the best in the country for a reason," Michigan coach Juwan Howard said. "He's very effective, especially if he's 8 feet and in."
With size and skills such as a hook shot, the junior center from Toronto scored Purdue's first seven points and finished the first half 7 of 12 from the field and 1 of 2 at the line.
"He did a great job in the first half, going to his right shoulder and using his left hand," Painter said. "He made four baskets with his left hand which is huge."
Freshman Braden Smith had 10 points for the Boilermakers.
Purdue's defense ultimately denied Michigan's comeback hopes, holding a 22nd straight opponent to 70 or fewer points.
Hunter Dickinson scored 21, Kobe Bufkin had 16 points and Baker added 11 points for the Wolverines, who have lost four of their last six games.
Dickinson, a 7-1 center, matched up with Edey defensively and pulled him out of the lane offensively by making 3 of 7 3-pointers.
"Half his shots were from the 3, and that's a little different," Painter said. "His meat and potatoes are on that block. He's the real deal."
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Boilermakers got the top spot in the AP Top 25 this week after winning six games, a stretch that followed a loss to Rutgers on Jan. 3 that dropped them from No. 1 in the poll. Purdue improved to 7-2 as the top-ranked team.
BIG PICTURE
Purdue: Edey can't beat teams by himself and he's surrounded by a lot of role players and a potential standout in Loyer. The 6-4 guard was the Big Ten player of the week earlier this month, become the first Boilermaker freshman to win the award since Robbie Hummel in 2008.
"Fletcher is somebody who has played better in the second half, and on the road," Painter said.
Michigan: Jett Howard's health is a critical factor for the Wolverines, who will have some work to do over the second half of the Big Ten season to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. Howard averages 14.6 points and is the most dynamic player on his father's team.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Boilermakers were away from home for 12 of 23 days, winning all five of their road games. They won at Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan for the first time since the 1997-98 season and beat the Spartans and Wolverines on their home court in the same season for the first time in 12 years.