Double-digit lead evaporates; Purdue basketball left something in tank to top UCLA

[ad_1]

WEST LAFAYETTE − That collective exhale from Mackey Arena on Friday night was the sound of relief coming from Purdue basketball fans.

After four straight losses, the 19th-ranked Boilermakers finally found their way back into the win column.

Braden Smith buried two 3-pointers in a span of 46 seconds in the final minutes, closing the door on a 76-66 victory over UCLA.

Two weeks ago, the Boilermakers (20-9) found themselves atop the Big Ten standings before losing a two-point heartbreaker at Michigan.

That began a downhill slide that Purdue players say escalated into a snowball too much to overcome last Sunday in a loss at rival Indiana.

The Bruins nearly pulled off another comeback before Purdue’s late-game resolve.

More: Did Purdue basketball get an unfair schedule in 18-team Big Ten?

More: Purdue basketball vs. UCLA: Two programs linked by college basketball icon John Wooden

Purdue basketball turning point

Maintaining double-digit leads has been a struggle for the Boilermakers during their recent funk.

For the fifth time in Purdue’s last 10 games, the Boilermakers saw a team erase a double-digit deficit.

After going up 10 when Trey Kaufman-Renn’s basket put the Boilers ahead 29-19 with 5:56 to go in the first half, UCLA responded with consecutive threes on its way to outscoring Purdue 16-8 the rest of the first half and closing within 37-35.

This time though, Purdue had something reserved for the final run.

Kaufman-Renn scored six straight points, sparking a 12-0 Purdue run that culminated with back-to-back 3s from Cam Heide and Fletcher Loyer, putting the Boilermakers up 67-56 with 3:38 to go.

Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) is defended by UCLA Bruins guard Skyy Clark (55) Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.

Braden Smith joins Purdue basketball record books

Myles Colvin was the recipient of Braden Smith’s second and third assists Friday night. A Colvin 3-pointer tied Smith with Bruce Parkinson (1972-77) for…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/double-digit-lead-evaporates-purdue-032148509.html

Author : Journal & Courier

Publish date : 2025-03-01 03:21:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.