Jaden Ivey scored 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and Eric Hunter Jr. had a career-high 20 points as No. 4 Purdue stretched its winning streak to four games with an 88-73 win against Minnesota in Big Ten play on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Purdue (19-3, 8-3 Big Ten) shot 55.6 percent while sending the Golden Gophers to their seventh loss in eight games. Payton Willis scored a game-high 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting while matching his career best of 10 assists to pace Minnesota (11-8, 2-8).
Shooting ebbed and flowed for the Boilermakers in the early going. The Boilermakers opened the night 8-for-8 from the floor, then missed seven in a row before recovering to make their next five shots.
So it was for spells in the second half. After Sasha Stefanovic scored the first points of the half on a fast-break layup to extend the Purdue lead to 18 points, the Boilermakers struggled, allowing Minnesota to whittle the advantage to seven points about eight minutes later.
The Boilermakers responded with a 16-6 run over the next 4:39 to pull away.
Stefanovic scored 15 points and dished seven of the team’s 23 assists, while Zach Edey registered a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds on a night Purdue never trailed.
Minnesota shot 46.6 percent while getting outrebounded 39-23. Jamison Battle scored 21 points for the Golden Gophers, while Luke Loewe was next with 11.
Willis grabbed five rebounds to lead Minnesota, which committed just five turnovers in the game.
Purdue rolled to a 51-36 halftime lead behind 60 percent shooting, including 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) accuracy from long range. Ivey paced the Boilermakers with 15 points, while Edey and Hunter scored 12 apiece.
Purdue has won six of nine against Minnesota, including five victories by double figures. The Boilermakers boast a 107-86 edge over the Golden Gophers all-time.
Boilermakers coach Matt Painter earned career victory No. 399 with the win.
–Field Level Media
