MENS BASKETBALL

Purdue 84, Iowa 70

JOHN BOHNENKAMP
ASSOCIATED PRESS

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Zach Edey had 30 points and 18 rebounds to lead No. 2 Purdue past Iowa 84-70.

Lance Jones scored 17 points and Fletcher Loyer added 12 as the Boilermakers (17-2, 6-2 Big Ten) won their third consecutive game and 10th out of their last 11.

Edey, the reigning national player of the year, put constant pressure on Iowa’s smaller frontcourt while getting his 12th double-double of the season. He was 10 of 15 from the field and 10 of 15 on free throws. Edey helped the Boilermakers have a 50-24 rebounding edge.

Purdue trailed 18-14 with 12:32 left in the first half before going on a 19-2 run, with most of those points coming with Edey on the bench. Iowa later answered with seven consecutive points before the Boilermakers closed the half with a 9-3 run to lead 47-34 at halftime.

Purdue maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half before Iowa got to within 78-70 with 4:22 left. The Hawkeyes (11-7, 3-4) had a chance to cut the lead further, but failed to score on three consecutive possessions. Jones then hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left to end Iowa’s comeback hopes.

Tony Perkins led Iowa with 24 points. Payton Sandfort had 16 points and Ben Krikke added 10.

BIG PICTURE

Purdue: It took a few minutes for the Boilermakers to settle in before their big first-half run gave them control. Edey was as dominant inside, as usual, and Purdue’s 3-point shooting left Iowa defenseless. It was a good road win to keep pace with Wisconsin at the top of the Big Ten standings. The Boilermakers have won nine of the last 11 against Iowa.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes came in having won three consecutive games and six of their last seven, but their inability to get rebounds proved costly, especially in the first half. Foul trouble against Krikke and freshman forward Owen Freeman in the first half didn’t help, either.

Purdue athletics press release

Jauary 20, 2024