Purdue Survives Another Close Call, Sets Sights on Iowa with Big Ten Stakes Rising
After Purdue narrowly escaped Oregon with a win earlier this month, guard Fletcher Loyer didn’t sugarcoat the situation: “We just got to be better. More energy.”
That message rang loud again Tuesday night, even after the Boilermakers pulled off an 80-77 overtime win at No. 7 Nebraska-a win that was as gritty as it was nerve-wracking.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a textbook finish. Purdue built a commanding 22-point second-half lead, only to watch it evaporate.
Nebraska clawed all the way back and nearly stole the game in regulation. If Rienk Mast had hit a late free throw, the Boilermakers might have been walking off the court with a loss instead of a win.
They missed six straight field goals down the stretch before Oscar Cluff finally broke the drought with a clutch bucket with 5.2 seconds left. Gicarri Harris sealed it with two free throws.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective-and it was Purdue’s second road win over a top-10 team this season. That’s the kind of resume bullet point that reminds people why this group opened the year as the nation’s No. 1.
“We stayed on an even keel, even when we weren't making our shots,” said point guard Braden Smith, who was right in the middle of the chaos. “Those things happen but the big thing for us was we erased that and won.”
Smith’s stat line told the story of a floor general who finds ways to impact the game, even when the shot isn’t falling. He went just 5-for-15 from the field but still finished with 13 points, 10 assists, and came within two rebounds of a triple-double. That performance nudged him closer to history-he’s now just 108 assists shy of tying Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA record of 1,076.
Through 24 games, Smith has been Purdue’s engine, averaging team highs of 15.1 points and 8.8 assists per game. Loyer continues to be a steady scoring option as well, chipping in 13.4 points per contest.
Now the Boilermakers (20-4, 10-3 Big Ten) turn their attention to Iowa, where they’ll face a Hawkeyes team that’s licking its wounds after a surprising 77-70 loss at Maryland. That defeat snapped a six-game winning streak and handed Iowa a Quad 3 loss it really didn’t need this late in the season.
Despite a monster 32-point night from guard Bennett Stirtz, the Hawkeyes couldn’t overcome lapses in effort and execution-especially on the defensive end and the glass. Head coach Ben McCollum didn’t mince words afterward.
“We didn’t guard the ball very well, didn’t defensive rebound or do the things that we typically do really well,” McCollum said. “It’s been snowballing on us for a couple of games; we just kind of got away with it. We just have to do a better job.”
Rebounding, in particular, is a glaring issue for Iowa. Maryland outrebounded them 34-25, and that’s not an outlier.
The Hawkeyes are pulling down just 27 boards per game-ranking 352nd out of 361 Division I teams. That’s a tough stat to take into a matchup with Purdue, which boasts size, strength, and depth in the frontcourt.
Stirtz has been Iowa’s go-to guy all season, averaging 20.4 points and 4.9 assists. But he’s been doing a lot of the heavy lifting on his own. Tavion Banks is the only other Hawkeye averaging double figures (11.0 ppg), and he’s been battling through injuries that have limited his impact at times.
These teams met back on Jan. 14, with Purdue taking a 79-72 win at home behind 16 points and eight assists from Smith. That game showcased the Boilermakers’ ability to control tempo and make plays late-something they’ll need to replicate on the road in Iowa City.
For Purdue, the mission is clear: tighten the screws, especially late in games. For Iowa, it’s about proving they can hang with a ranked opponent and fix the flaws that cost them in College Park.
Saturday’s matchup isn’t just another Big Ten game-it’s a chance for Purdue to keep pace in the conference race and for Iowa to grab the kind of signature win that could shift the narrative heading into March.