Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Purdue registers first win vs. No. 1 team in over 20 years with upset of Arizona

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Purdue previously spent one week in the No. 1 spot of the AP Poll this season. After a statement win Saturday night, the Boilermakers are building a case to move back to the top spot next week.

Facing off in Indianapolis, Purdue and No. 1 overall Arizona met in a top-5 battle. The Boilermakers built an 11-point halftime lead but saw that margin dwindle in the second half.

Behind Caleb Love and Keshad Johnson, Arizona cut the lead all the way to 4 points with just over 4:30 left in the game. Fortunately, Purdue responded and pushed the lead back to 11 before rolling to the finish line with a 92-84 win.

The win moves the Boilermakers to 10-1 on the season. It also gives Purdue 4 wins over top-15 teams at the time of the game this season.

The victory for Matt Painter is also the third all-time victory for Purdue against the AP’s No. 1 team. The last time the Boilermakers accomplished the feat came in 2000, also against Arizona, giving Purdue its first win against the No. 1 team in over 20 years.

Traditionally the leader for Purdue, Zach Edey chipped in 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists but he was far from the story of the day. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer combined to go off from deep to power the win.

Smith and Loyer combined for 53 points, 9-for-16 shooting from 3-point range and 7 steals in the win. Certainly, the work of Edey in the middle created some of those opportunities, but Purdue will be tough to beat if Loyer and Smith can hit those shots consistently.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.