Purdue basketball survives USC’s test behind Braden Smith, Oscar Cluff

Purdue basketball needed a little grit to avoid a perilous start to its west coast road trip.

The No. 5 Boilermakers rallied in the final three minutes for a 69-64 victory over USC at the Galen Center.

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They improved to 17-1 and 7-0 in Big Ten play behind Braden Smith and Oscar Cluff. Smith had 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting (4-6 on 3s) with five assists and four rebounds. Cluff added 19 points (7-8) with six rebounds and four assists.

They’ll head across town Tuesday to face UCLA.

Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the Boilers’ win means.

What I liked in Purdue basketball’s win at USC

The myth of Smith reached Hollywood in the first half. Whatever happened when he bonked knees in the first half appeared to give him some lingering discomfort. He shrugged it off and became the catalyst of that 30-10 run to end the first half. He scored 18 in the first half and was the only Boiler not afflicted by the poor perimeter shooting bug.

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Then, after a rough second half, he came up with the steal and layup in the final 30 seconds to push the lead out to three points. He even took a swat to the face (uncalled) which could have made it two-possession game. It was the play of the night – one worth remembering when you look at the Big Ten standings late this season.

∎ Foul trouble eventually forced Purdue to go small in the second half, with Trey Kaufman-Renn at the 5. Jack Benter answered the challenge. Soon after hitting a 3, he stole the ball, made the assist at the other end of the floor, then came down and absorbed his second charge taken of the night. Benter also turned in some big minutes in the first half playing alongside Daniel Jacobsen. His court vision and awareness show up in passing, rebounding – even taking position and anticipating those charges.

∎ Once Cluff got back on the court after his fourth foul, he took command. His five points and three rebounds in the final three minutes were critical. He might have scored 30 without foul…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/purdue-basketball-survives-uscs-test-011711973.html

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Publish date : 2026-01-18 01:17:00

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