Smith’s steal and layup help No. 5 Purdue edge USC 69-64, move into 1st-place tie in Big Ten
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Braden Smith stole the ball at midcourt and hit a layup with 23 seconds remaining, helping No. 5 Purdue edge Southern California 69-64 on Saturday to pull into a first-place tie with Nebraska in the Big Ten standings with its ninth consecutive victory.
Smith scored 18 of his 22 points in the first half, when Purdue trailed by 14 points in the school’s first visit to Los Angeles to play USC in 53 years.
The Boilermakers (17-1, 7-0) had just two field goals in the game’s final three minutes, but made 8 of 10 free throws to avoid the upset. They were favored by 9 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Trojans (14-4, 3-4) were just 5 of 14 from the free-throw line in the game. They were led by Chad Baker-Mazara with 15 points. He missed six of seven 3-pointers, including a desperation heave at the end.
Trailing 60-57, the Boilermakers outscored USC 12-4 over the final three minutes of a back-and-forth second half.
Playing with four fouls, Oscar Cluff scored five in a row after Purdue trailed 60-58. He finished with 19 points and six rebounds.
Buoyed by a partisan crowd, the Boilermakers rallied from the early 14-point deficit to earn the program’s 1,000th victory since the 1980-81 season, when coach Gene Keady first took over in West Lafayette.
Clad in black-and-gold and chanting “Boiler up!” and “Let’s go Boilers!,” it felt more like Mackey Arena West than Galen Center, where the Trojans average 4,318.
In the first half, the Trojans ran off 16 straight points to take their largest lead of the game, 22-8. Five different players scored, highlighted by 7-foot-5 Gabe Dynes’ dunk.
The Boilermakers answered with a 30-10 run to close the first half leading 38-32. Smith scored 13 of his 18 points in the spurt, singlehandedly outscoring the Trojans 8-0 going into the break. He made all four of his 3-point attempts in the half.
Up next
Purdue: Visits UCLA on Tuesday in its first trip to Pauley Pavilion in 25 years.
USC: Hosts Northwestern on Wednesday to close out a three-game homestand.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball