No. 7 Purdue Overwhelms Indiana With Historic Offensive Efficiency

2026-02-21 general

West Lafayette, Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Fueled by an exceptional 64.7 percent shooting performance, No. 7 Purdue routed Indiana 93-64, overwhelming their rivals to secure a split in the season series.

Boilermakers Execute Flawless Offensive Display

In a commanding performance at Mackey Arena on Friday, February 20, the Purdue Boilermakers dismantled their in-state rivals, the Indiana Hoosiers, with a final score of 93-64 [1][2]. The victory allowed No. 7 Purdue to split the season series after a loss in Bloomington earlier this year [1][6]. The defining metric of the evening was Purdue’s offensive efficiency; the team shot a blistering 64.7 percent from the field compared to Indiana’s 52.2 percent [1]. The Boilermakers also displayed precision from beyond the arc, converting 10 of their 18 three-point attempts [2][5]. This offensive output resulted in an average of 1.55 points per possession, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the victory [7].

Balanced Attack Overwhelms Hoosier Defense

Purdue’s scoring effort was characterized by exceptional balance, with multiple players making significant contributions. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the charge with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, anchoring the interior offense [2][7]. Complementing the inside game, Fletcher Loyer delivered a flawless shooting performance, tallying 18 points while going 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 from three-point range [2][7]. Freshman Omer Mayer matched Loyer’s 18 points, scoring 14 of them in the second half to stifle any potential Indiana rally [1]. Braden Smith orchestrated the offense effectively, contributing 15 points and dishing out eight assists [1][2]. The Boilermakers’ dominance extended to the glass, where they held a plus-15 rebounding advantage over the Hoosiers [1], limiting Indiana to a mere 15 rebounds for the entire game [8].

Indiana Struggles to Keep Pace

Despite a respectable shooting percentage, Indiana was unable to match Purdue’s intensity or volume. The Hoosiers struggled with ball security early, committing seven turnovers in the first half which contributed to a 46-29 halftime deficit [1][5]. Lamar Wilkerson was the bright spot for Indiana, leading the team with 20 points, though the offense stagnated for long stretches [1][5]. Tayton Conerway provided a spark off the bench with 12 points and seven assists, appearing healthy after recent ankle issues [1][7][8]. However, the defensive lapses were severe; analysts noted that Purdue was able to get whatever it wanted offensively, turning the game into the worst loss of the Darian DeVries era by a margin of 29 points [5][8].

Postseason Implications and Upcoming Schedule

The victory improves Purdue’s record to 22-5 overall and 12-4 in Big Ten play, keeping them firmly in contention near the top of the conference standings [1]. Conversely, Indiana drops to 17-10 overall and an even 8-8 in conference play, a result that may impact their seeding for the NCAA Tournament [1][7]. Looking ahead, Indiana will attempt to regroup when they host Northwestern on Tuesday, February 24 [5][2]. Meanwhile, Purdue will look to continue its winning momentum when they welcome Michigan State to West Lafayette on Thursday, February 26 [2].

Sources

NCAA Basketball Big Ten