Purdue’s second game of the season ended in one of those losses that lingers. Valparaiso walked out of Mackey Arena with an 83-80 win Friday night, and it took a last-second three from Justus McNair in double overtime to finish off the Boilermakers.
The defeat dropped Purdue to 0-2, but the final shot only told part of the story. The Boilers had chances to seize control and never made them count, letting a game they could have put away keep slipping back into reach for the Beacons.
McNair was the closer, but he wasn’t the only Beacon who caused problems. The Valparaiso sophomore delivered 35 points, eight rebounds and six assists while shooting 14-of-22 from the floor. Even after fouling out in double overtime, he had already done enough to put his team in position to steal the game.
Purdue had no real answer for him from the opening stretch. The Boilermakers still carried a 32-20 lead into halftime, but that cushion didn’t hold. Chaney had 15 of Purdue’s points by the break and kept making plays throughout the night, including a huge sequence at the end of overtime when he chased down a missed free throw and buried a contested three to force a second extra period.
That shot gave Purdue another chance, but the offense never found a rhythm from deep. This was supposed to be a team built around perimeter shooting, yet the early returns have been rough.
Veterans Gicarri Harris, C.J. Cox, Omer Mayer and Jack Benter have all struggled to knock down shots, and the numbers from Friday were ugly.
Purdue finished 5-of-28 from three-point range. It went 4-of-13 in the first half, then managed just 1-of-15 across the second half and both overtime periods.
The Boilers didn’t hit a single three in the extra sessions. With Antione West Jr. and Luke Ertel added to the mix, Purdue’s guards were only 3-of-20 from beyond the arc.
The missed shots weren’t the only issue. Purdue also gave away key moments with mistakes that mattered. Valparaiso attempted only 16 free throws, but the Boilermakers still fouled at the wrong times and let the game tilt away from them when it mattered most.
That’s where the growing pains show up. Valparaiso made the plays it needed.
Purdue didn’t. For a group still figuring out its identity, that gap showed up in the biggest moments.
The pressure defense that was supposed to be one of Purdue’s strengths also hasn’t shown up the way the Boilers hoped. Valparaiso, a team that doesn’t give the ball away often, turned it over just nine times in 50 minutes.
Purdue was expected to force mistakes, run, and score easier baskets. Instead, through two games, that hasn’t happened.
On Friday, the Boilers had just two fastbreak points and only seven points off turnovers. When the threes aren’t falling, they need another way to score, and right now Daniel Jacobsen is the only reliable option.
There was also another wrinkle in the backcourt rotation. Mayer has started both games, but West was again the one called on late.
Mayer didn’t get on the floor until overtime after the redshirt freshman fouled out. Neither guard had a strong night, but Matt Painter seems to trust West’s playmaking, especially in crunch time.
That didn’t pay off in the first two games, and it leaves an interesting question moving forward about how Purdue handles that spot down the stretch.
In Other News...
Purdue Just Let A Controlled Game Turn Into A Brutal Early Warning
Purdue spent enough of the night in a controlled, familiar kind of game that it should have been able to close the door. Instead, Valparaiso kept hanging around, got a standout effort from Rakim Chaney, and turned a matchup the Boilermakers expected to manage into something far more uncomfortable. For a program that usually leans on composure and structure, the loss was a jolt, especially with the kind of history attached to it.
Justus McNair delivered the game-winning basket in overtime, putting an exclamation point on a result that will linger well beyond one night. Matt Painters team is off to a rough start, and the bigger concern for Purdue is not just the record, but how a game that looked under control slipped away before it could be finished. [Read more 🡒]
Purdues Roster Overhaul Raised Big Concerns In A Brutal Opener
The first night of Purdues new-look season brought plenty of curiosity to Mackey Arena, where four new starters were making their debut and the Boilermakers were trying to sort out a reshaped rotation on the fly. For stretches, the ball security was encouraging and the energy fit the occasion, but the offense never quite settled in, and a 32-point first half underscored how much work remains for a group still learning how to play together.
Purdue did get notable individual production and some useful answers from the bench and rotation decisions, yet the second half exposed the same issue that lingered early: too many possessions stalled when the game tightened. With a roster overhaul already forcing adjustments, the opener served as a reminder that the Boilermakers may need time to turn talent into consistency, especially when the offense is asked to carry them through a rough patch. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Needs A Much Cleaner Response After That Opening Loss
Purdues season opened with a jolt in a loss to No. 15 Gonzaga, a result that stood out not just because of the opponent but because it was only the second time in Matt Painters 22 seasons in West Lafayette that the Boilermakers dropped their opener. Even in defeat, there were a few encouraging individual signs, including a strong showing from center Daniel Jacobsen and a solid first outing from newcomer Caden Pierce.
The bigger issue now is how Purdue responds, because early November losses can linger if the next game does not bring a cleaner, sharper effort. Valparaiso comes in having already handled Western Illinois in its opener, so the Boilermakers will need to show they can settle in quickly, tighten things up and avoid letting one rough night set the tone for the week. [Read more 🡒]