Indiana Holds Off Late Purdue Push, Grabs Statement Win in Bloomington
Darian DeVries is already making waves in his first season at Indiana, and Tuesday night’s win over No. 12 Purdue might be his biggest splash yet. The Hoosiers took control late in the first half, built a pair of 14-point leads in the second, and held on down the stretch to secure a gritty 72-67 victory in front of a raucous home crowd at Assembly Hall.
This one had all the makings of a classic Big Ten battle-momentum swings, physical play, and a finish that had fans on the edge of their seats. Indiana’s 21-6 run to close the first half flipped the script after Purdue had jumped out to a 23-19 lead. And while the Boilermakers made a late push, trimming the deficit to just two points in the final two minutes, Indiana’s composure in crunch time sealed the deal.
Let’s break it down in our latest edition of The Report Card.
OFFENSE: B+
Indiana’s offensive identity continues to evolve, and the emergence of Nick Dorn as a legitimate perimeter threat is opening up the floor in a big way. With Dorn spacing the court and knocking down threes, the Hoosiers suddenly have three shooters defenses have to respect, and that’s creating all kinds of headaches for opponents.
“It gives our team a lot more options,” said guard Conor Enright. “When Tucker and Lamar are doing what they’re doing and then you have Nick hitting six threes a game, it’s hard to guard.”
That spacing forced Purdue to adjust, and those adjustments worked in Indiana’s favor. The Boilermakers had to go smaller, benching starting big man Oscar Cluff for most of the second half. That shift not only helped Indiana offensively, it also eased some of the mismatches they would’ve faced on the defensive end.
The Hoosiers weren’t perfect down the stretch-Lamar Wilkerson had a pair of turnovers in under a minute, and they missed the front end of three one-and-ones at the free throw line-but when it mattered most, they settled in. Enright’s game-clinching three was a dagger, and Indiana took care of the ball in the final 90 seconds to close it out.
Statistically, the Hoosiers were efficient: 1.17 points per possession, 64.7% shooting from two-point range, and just eight turnovers. They didn’t dominate every category, but they made the most of their opportunities.
DEFENSE: A
The game plan was clear: make life miserable for Braden Smith. And Indiana executed it with discipline and intensity.
The Hoosiers threw aggressive hedges, traps, and help defense at Purdue’s star point guard, and it paid off. Smith had zero assists in the first half, and while he finished with five, he also turned it over four times and needed 14 shots to get his 14 points.
“Our game plan was to show out and hedge on those ball screens,” Enright said. “And I think we did a really good job of five guys playing defense on one guy at the same time.”
That kind of connected defense-five guys moving as one-is what it takes to slow down an elite offense like Purdue’s. And while the extra attention on Smith opened up the paint for Trey Kaufman-Renn, who finished with 23 points, Indiana’s effort and execution across the board kept Purdue from getting comfortable.
The Hoosiers also held their own on the glass despite playing smaller lineups. Purdue, usually dominant on the offensive boards, was held seven percentage points below their season average in offensive rebounding rate.
And let’s not forget the crowd. Assembly Hall was rocking, and that energy helped fuel Indiana’s defensive intensity-especially during a first half that saw Purdue commit seven turnovers.
In the end, Purdue managed just 1.09 points per possession, their third-lowest mark of the season. Against a top-15 team, that’s a defensive win.
PLAYER GRADES
Tucker DeVries (B+)
Purdue made it a mission to take him out of the game in the second half, and they largely succeeded-he attempted just one shot after the break. But his three first-half triples were crucial in building Indiana’s lead, and he battled on the boards all night.
Lamar Wilkerson (B)
Not his cleanest performance-he struggled with efficiency and had two costly turnovers late-but his seven rebounds were huge in a game where every loose ball mattered. Purdue threw extra defenders his way, and he still found ways to contribute.
Sam Alexis (B+)
Alexis gave Indiana quality minutes defensively, using his length and positioning to bother Purdue’s bigs. Foul trouble and a strong showing from Reed Bailey limited his time, but he made his presence felt.
Conor Enright (A)
The moment wasn’t too big for Enright.
He drilled the game-clinching three, hit two clutch free throws, and played relentless defense for 40 minutes. Even while battling cramps, he stayed locked in.
DeVries called his effort “incredible,” and it’s hard to argue.
Nick Dorn (A)
Dorn was everywhere.
He knocked down four threes, including two back-to-back to stop a Purdue run. He attacked closeouts, finished at the rim, grabbed key rebounds late, and played his most engaged defensive game of the season.
He’s becoming a real difference-maker.
Reed Bailey (A-)
Bailey was a spark during Indiana’s first-half surge. He finished around the rim, defended well, and while he only had two boards officially, he was active on the glass and helped set the tone with his energy.
Jasai Miles (A-)
This was Miles’ best game in an Indiana uniform.
He brought toughness, rebounded well, stayed locked in defensively, and even knocked down a three in front of the Purdue bench. A strong all-around effort.
What’s Next
Indiana (14-7, 5-5 in Big Ten play) heads west for a Saturday showdown at UCLA. With momentum building and a signature win now on their résumé, the Hoosiers are starting to look like a team nobody wants to face down the stretch.