Purdue defeats Washington 81-73

Purdue Pulls Away Late, Beats Washington in Conference Showdown

In a tightly contested conference matchup at Mackey Arena, Purdue proved too strong for visiting Washington, ultimately securing an 81-73 victory on Thursday night.

Trailing by just 17 points at halftime, the Boilermakers came out with renewed energy in the second half. Led by senior guard Braden Smith, who scored 23 points and dished out seven assists, Purdue slowly chipped away at the deficit. The home team's bench played a key role in the comeback, as they outscored Washington's reserves 20-10 in the third quarter.

Washington, which had dominated the first half, struggled to contain Smith and his teammates in the second period. The Huskies' offense, which had been clicking on all cylinders before halftime, began to fall apart. They shot just 11-of-30 from the field (36.7%) in the final 20 minutes, while committing 10 turnovers.

For the game, Washington's Hannes Steinbach led the way with 17 points, while Franck Kepnang added 10 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Huskies' shooting woes ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Purdue's strong defensive effort was a key factor in its victory. The Boilermakers held Washington to just 36% from the field (28-of-63) for the game, while also forcing 13 turnovers and grabbing 37 rebounds.

The final margin of eight points was not as large as it could have been, but Purdue's dominance in the paint – where they scored 42 points – ultimately proved decisive. The Boilermakers' ability to contain Washington's scoring threats and limit their second-chance opportunities also played a significant role in their victory.

With the win, Purdue improves its standing within the conference standings, while Washington falls just short of a crucial upset bid.