CJ Cox’s last second three hit the front of the rim, and bounced harmlessly away as Purdue falls for the first time in the Big Ten, 69-67 to the UCLA Bruins. Behind a 23 point Donovan Dent performance,
the Bruins were able to knock off the #4 Purdue Boilermakers. It is just Purdue’s second loss of the season. Dent was the star, but it was Tyler Bilodeau that brought the dagger. With just under ten seconds remaining, Dent in a two man game, found Bilodeau for three. Bilodeau knocked down the three and gave UCLA its final lead of the game. For Purdue, too many misses and way too much Dent was the downfall. Purdue was just 3 of 14 from three. Fletcher Loyer struggled again, knocking down just 1 of 5 from three, including a couple key misses late. But it was Dent, who added 13 assists with his game-high 23 points, that dominated the entire second half. Purdue had no answer for the guard in the second half. The Bruins defense held the nation’s #1 offense to 46% shooting and 21% from three. Purdue thought it pulled away late, going up six after the last media timeout, but an 8-0 run by the Bruins to finish the game moves Purdue from the top of the Big Ten standings. Purdue’s west coast trip wraps up with a 1-1 record. Purdue was led by CJ Cox who had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, but didn’t get enough from its stars. Braden Smith, questionable coming into the game after a leg injury against USC three days prior, had just 12 points and 4 assists. He came in averaging over 18 points and 9 assists a game in the Big Ten. Trey Kaufman-Renn was the only other Purdue player in double-digits, scoring 10 points to go with 10 points to go with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Once again, a defense showed TKR constant doubles and tried to take the ball out of his hand.
Purdue’s bench out performed UCLA for the entire game. Gicarri Harris had 7 points, Jack Benter made key plays in both halves, and Daniel Jacobsen had a couple big rebounds. UCLA’s bench didn’t score a single point, but the Bruins starters were better than Purdue’s stars when it matter.
Purdue leaves the West Coast as a team struggling offensively after looking unstoppable for the first half of the season.
