After a rough three-game skid and a players-only meeting that hinted at urgency behind closed doors, Purdue came into College Park with something to prove-and they didn’t just prove it, they made a statement. The Boilermakers dominated from the opening tip and never looked back, steamrolling Maryland in a 93-63 win that felt every bit as lopsided as the score suggests.
Smith and Loyer Set the Tone
This one was all about Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. The backcourt duo combined for 48 points, shooting a blistering 11-of-16 from beyond the arc.
That’s not just hot-it’s volcanic. Loyer, who had been struggling from deep over his last five games (under 24% from three), found his rhythm early and never let go.
He knocked down his first two triples before the first media timeout, a sign of things to come.
Smith, meanwhile, was in full command. His second-chance three-pointer during a first-half run helped Purdue build a 17-7 lead, and from that point on, the Boilermakers never let their foot off the gas. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Purdue was up 49-28-and Smith and Loyer alone had outscored Maryland, combining for 35 points to the Terps’ 28.
First-Half Dominance
Purdue’s first-half performance was as complete as they’ve had in weeks. The offense clicked, the perimeter shots were falling, and the effort on the glass was relentless.
Trey Kaufman-Renn chipped in with 5 points and 8 rebounds, helping Purdue match Maryland’s entire team rebound total with offensive boards alone-eight. Those second-chance opportunities turned into 16 points, and when you’re shooting the lights out and owning the glass, you’re going to be tough to beat.
The Boilermakers’ 23-5 run midway through the first half blew the game open, and Maryland never recovered. From that point forward, Purdue’s lead never dipped below double digits.
Second-Half Control
The second half didn’t have the fireworks of the first, but it didn’t need to. Purdue had built enough of a cushion to cruise, and that’s exactly what they did. Maryland found some offensive rhythm behind Darius Adams, Sol Washington, and Andre Mills-who combined for 28 of the Terps’ 35 second-half points-but they couldn’t string together stops or put together the kind of run that would make things interesting.
Purdue, on the other hand, spread the wealth. Eight different Boilermakers scored in the second half, with Gicarri Harris leading the way with 10 points.
They stayed efficient from deep, hitting 6-of-13 from three, and took care of the ball with just three turnovers after the break. It was a clean, composed effort that allowed Matt Painter to empty the bench in the closing minutes.
Daniel Jacobsen even knocked down his third three of the season, and walk-ons Liam Murphy, Aaron Fine, and Jack Lusk got some run as well-a nice reward after a bounce-back performance.
Looking Ahead
This win couldn’t have come at a better time for Purdue. After a January slide that saw them drop three straight conference games, the Boilermakers needed a reset.
They got it in emphatic fashion. Now, they’ll get a chance to regroup with nearly a week off before Oregon comes to Mackey Arena on Saturday.
At 8-3 in Big Ten play, Purdue is tied with Wisconsin for fifth place. But the path back to the top is still wide open-they’ve yet to face three of the four teams ahead of them in the standings, with matchups against Nebraska, Michigan, and Michigan State still on the calendar.
This win also likely stopped the bleeding in the AP rankings, where Purdue had slipped to 12th after a tough week. Another loss might’ve sent them tumbling.
Instead, they showed exactly what they’re capable of when their backcourt is clicking and the energy is right. For a team with deep March aspirations, this was the kind of performance that can reignite a season.