#2 Purdue Beats Xavier in the Gavitt Games 83-71 - Purdue Boilermakers (2024)

[2] Purdue 83, Xavier 71 (Postgame Info)

• No. 2-ranked Purdue improved to 3-0 with an 83-71 win over Xavier in the 2023 Gavitt Games played at Mackey Arena.
• The Boilermakers are now at least 3-0 for the third straight year, finishing the Gavitt Games with a 3-2 record (0-1 vs. Villanova; 2-1 vs. Marquette; 1-0 vs. Xavier).
• The win was Purdue's 27^th straight non-conference, regular-season victory, dating to Dec. 8, 2020. It was also Purdue's 17^th straight win in the month of November and 22^nd straight non-conference win at Mackey Arena.
• The win snapped a five-game losing streak to Xavier, which had been the second-longest active losing streak to a single opponent (UCLA – 8). Purdue's last win over Xavier had been on Dec. 5, 2001.
• The Boilermakers have scored 83 or more points in their first three games for the second time in three years (2021-22) and for the fourth time under Matt Painter (2023-24, 2021-22, 2018-19, 2017-18).
• The Boilermaker have shot at least 50.9 percent from the field in all three games this year.
• Purdue has shot at least 46 percent from 3-point range in two of the three games this year. A year ago, Purdue shot at least 46 percent from 3-point range just twice all season.
• Purdue is 61-14 (.813) overall since the start of the 2021-22 season.
• Purdue shot 50.9 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from 3-point range and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. Purdue has won 57 straight games when shooting at least 50-40-70 from the three levels.
• Purdue has won 52 straight games when scoring at least 80 points and is 74-2 when scoring 80 points since the start of the 2017-18 season.
• Zach Edey recorded his 41^st career double-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. It was his 20^th career 20-10 game, now third among all active players (Armando Bacot, Fardaws Aimaq).
• Edey moved into a tie for 18^th place on the school's career scoring list (1,595).
• Through three games this year, Edey has 62 points, 30 rebounds and 11 blocks in just 77:25 of action. Per 40 minutes, Edey is averaging 32.0 points, 15.5 rebounds and 5.7 blocks. He has also drawn 27 fouls in those 77+ minutes.
• Braden Smith tallied 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds and is now averaging 11.7 points, 8.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.
• Myles Colvin went 3-of-3 from long distance for a career-high nine points, and is now shooting 7-of-10 from long range this year.
• Purdue's bench went 5-of-7 from long range. As a team for the season, Purdue is shooting 31-of-67 (.463) from 3-point range.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. --Zach Edey's second-half presence Monday night put pressure on Xavier.

His Purdue teammates took advantage of the openings he created and, of course, having the contributions of the reigning national player of the year.

Edey scored 20 of his 28 points in the second halfwhile grabbing 11 rebounds andBraden Smithadded 12 points and seven assists as the second-ranked Boilermakers pulled away late for an 83-71 victory over the Musketeers in their final Gavitt Tipoff game.

"We tried to keep him between a body and the basket and limit his offensive rebounds, his deep catches," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "We held him to 28 and 11 and he fouled out the whole team."

The Boilermakers (3-0) extended their school record for consecutive regular season wins against non-conference opponents to 27. They also snapped a five-game losing streak in the series by beating the Musketeers for the first time since December 2001. The schools hadn't met since 2012.

Xavier (2-1) was led byDesmond Claudewith 15 points and six assists.Three players had 10 points.

But, as most teams do, the Musketeers struggled to contend with the 7-foot-4 Edey, who drew 11 fouls and went 10 of 11 from the free-throw line.Abou Ousmane, a 6-10 forward, spent most of the night in foul trouble before picking up his fifth foul with 8:04 to play.

"If you watch him, you expect him to make every shot, but so does he," coach Matt Painter said of Edey. "His gauge isn't somebody else, his gauge is himself. But I know as long as we win, he's happy."

Xavier certainly made life more difficult for the Boilermakers than last week when they won two games by more than 30 points each.

Purdue scored the final four points of the first half to take a 37-29 lead and still couldn't pull away after extending the margin to 46-35 early in the second half. The Boilermakers finally used an 11-5 spurt to open up a 71-57 cushion with 6:28 to go and Xavier never seriously challenged again.

BIG PICTURE

Xavier: With six freshmen and four transfers, the Musketeers' ceiling remains a mystery. But if Monday's game is any indication, coach Sean Miller's squad could pose a real obstacle in the Big East.

Purdue: Instead of jumping out to a big, early lead and pulling away, the Boilermakers passed their first real test of the season — and just in time for next week's Maui Invitational.