Jaden Ivey powers Purdue to opening win in B1G play, potential No. 1 spot on AP Poll
Purdue basketball is off to a roaring start to the season, and the Boilermakers should be in line for the top overall ranking when the next AP Poll comes out.
On Friday night, Matt Painter’s squad opened B1G play with a 77-70 win over Iowa. Purdue had built a 13-point lead at the break and hung on late as the Hawkeyes poured in 44 second-half points.
The leader for Purdue was Jaden Ivey as he netted 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field. Ivey also added 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
The rest of Purdue’s starters were mostly bottled up in the game, but it provided an opportunity for the Boilermakers to flex their depth and versatility. Trevion Williams posted a double-double off the bench with 13 points, an incredible 18 rebounds, and 3 assists. Mason Gillis also hit double figures with 12 points off the bench.
Purdue’s streak of 80+ points in every game to start the season was snapped but it will go down as another quality win with Iowa entering the game at 7-0. With No. 1 Duke losing to Ohio State in the B1G/ACC Challenge, Purdue should be well-positioned to ascend to the top spot on the AP Poll to start next week.
Here’s a look at the highlights from Friday:
The Boilermakers played some really 🔥 ball tonight.
Here are some @BoilerBall highlights to get your weekend started off the right way. pic.twitter.com/8FG0iP2XcZ
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 4, 2021