Purdue basketball secured its second consecutive outright Big Ten title with a 77-71 victory over Illinois on Saturday, thanks to a stellar performance by sophomore center Zach Edey. Edey scored a career-high 28 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists in 24 minutes of action. He also made 12 of 14 shots from the field and four of five from the free-throw line.
Edey dominates the paint against Illinois
The 7-foot-4 Canadian was unstoppable in the paint, using his size and strength to overpower the Illinois defenders. He scored 16 points in the first half, helping Purdue build a 38-31 lead at the break. He continued his dominance in the second half, scoring 12 more points and making key plays down the stretch.
Edey’s performance was especially impressive considering that he was matched up against Illinois’ star center Kofi Cockburn, who is one of the best big men in the country. Cockburn finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but he was clearly outplayed by Edey.
Purdue’s 3-point shooting propels them to victory
Purdue also got a boost from its 3-point shooting, as the Boilermakers made 11 of 23 from beyond the arc. Senior guard Sasha Stefanovic led the way with four 3-pointers and 14 points, while junior guard Eric Hunter Jr. added three 3-pointers and 11 points. Purdue’s 3-point shooting was crucial in the second half, as the Boilermakers extended their lead to as many as 16 points.
Illinois, on the other hand, struggled to find its rhythm from the 3-point line, making only six of 23 attempts. The Fighting Illini relied on their star guard Ayo Dosunmu, who scored 20 points and had nine assists, but he also committed six turnovers. Illinois made a late run to cut the deficit to four points with 15 seconds left, but Purdue held on to secure the win.
Purdue celebrates its second straight Big Ten title
With the victory, Purdue improved to 25-3 overall and 16-2 in the Big Ten, clinching the outright conference title for the second straight season. The Boilermakers also extended their winning streak to 11 games, the longest in the nation. Purdue coach Matt Painter praised his team for its consistency and resilience throughout the season.
“I’m really proud of our guys. They’ve been very consistent. They’ve been very tough. They’ve been very together,” Painter said. “They’ve done a great job of just staying in the moment and not getting too high or too low.”
Purdue will enter the Big Ten tournament as the No. 1 seed, with a chance to add more hardware to its trophy case. The Boilermakers will face the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game on Friday in Indianapolis.
Illinois, meanwhile, dropped to 21-7 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten, finishing third in the conference standings. The Fighting Illini will be the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten tournament, and will play the winner of the No. 6 vs. No. 11 game on Friday.
Edey earns praise from teammates and opponents
Edey’s performance against Illinois earned him praise from his teammates and opponents, who recognized his impact on the game. Stefanovic said that Edey was “a monster” and “a force to be reckoned with.” Hunter Jr. said that Edey was “the best player on the floor” and “a difference-maker.”
Even Illinois coach Brad Underwood acknowledged Edey’s dominance, saying that he was “the story of the game.” Underwood said that Edey was “a load” and “a problem” for his team, and that he had “a tremendous game.”
Edey, who averaged 9.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season, said that he was just trying to help his team win and make the most of his opportunities.
“I just try to play hard and do whatever I can to help the team win,” Edey said. “I just try to take advantage of the opportunities that I get and be efficient.”
Edey also said that he was happy to win the Big Ten title with his teammates, and that he was looking forward to the postseason.
“It feels great. It’s a great accomplishment for us. We worked hard for this,” Edey said. “We’re not done yet. We still have a lot of goals ahead of us. We’re going to keep working and keep getting better.”
