Imagine a player so dominant, he scores 26 points and dishes out 14 assists, and still it feels like his impact goes beyond the numbers. That's Braden Smith, and he's leading Purdue on an absolute tear. But is this dominance sustainable, or will opponents figure out a way to slow him down? Let's dive into how Smith propelled Purdue to their seventh consecutive win, a 93-85 victory over Penn State, and what it means for their Big Ten title hopes.
Behind Smith's stellar performance, fifth-ranked Purdue improved to a perfect 5-0 in conference play. It wasn't just his scoring; it was the way he controlled the game, impacting it on both ends of the court. As coach Matt Painter put it, "At times you just step back and you’re like a fan. You just watch him."
And this is the part most people miss... Smith's brilliance isn't just about individual stats; it's about making everyone around him better. He has an uncanny ability to find the open man, even when defenses are keying in on him.
Oscar Cluff also had a monster game, bullying the Penn State front line with 23 points and seven rebounds. His offensive rebounding in the second half was crucial in thwarting any comeback attempts by the Nittany Lions. Fletcher Loyer chipped in with 17 points, and CJ Cox added 16, showcasing the Boilermakers' balanced attack. Purdue's starting five shouldered almost all the scoring load, with only two bench points coming from Daniel Jacobsen. This reliance on the starters could be a concern down the road, especially during the grind of conference play. Will Purdue need to develop more bench depth to make a deep tournament run?
Purdue started strong, mounting an 11-0 run in the first half to take a 35-29 lead. However, Penn State stayed close thanks to an unexpected hot streak from beyond the arc, shooting 8-of-17 from three-point range. Melih Tunca's banked-in three was a particularly lucky shot, keeping Purdue's lead to a narrow 45-44 at halftime, despite Smith's 17 points and seven assists.
Smith himself acknowledged his scoring ability, joking that people might be forgetting he can still fill it up. "I still know how to score even though I pass a lot," he said. "But I also have a team around me that supports me and has the confidence in me to go out and make plays... I just play and whatever the defense gives me, that’s what I take."
The Boilermakers came out firing in the second half, going on a 15-5 run fueled by three-pointers from Smith and Cox. While Purdue's shooting remained hot, Penn State cooled off, starting 0-5 from three. But here's where it gets controversial... some might argue that Penn State's ability to stay within striking distance despite the cold stretch is a testament to their resilience. What do you think?
Even after Penn State cut the lead to eight with just over five minutes remaining, Cox sparked another Purdue run with a pair of steals that led to easy points. A Smith steal and dish to Cox for a layup capped off the defensive surge, giving Purdue a 14-point cushion. The Boilermakers then held off the scrappy Nittany Lions to secure the eight-point victory.
Cox played a pivotal role in the second half, scoring 11 of his 16 points, while Cluff added 14 points to lead Purdue's scoring effort after halftime. Cluff's physicality clearly took a toll on Penn State, as he drew eight fouls and secured crucial offensive rebounds. "My theory is nobody wants to bash their body for 40 minutes," Cluff explained. "Coming in strong and doing that from the very beginning, over time your body starts to get tired, starts to get sore. Then people don’t want to guard you anymore."
After his explosive first half, Smith scored nine more points in the second half, finishing with 14 assists, tying his season-high. This marked his fifth 20-point, 10-assist game of his career, adding to Purdue's rich basketball history. It was also the second time Smith has recorded 25+ points and 12+ assists in a single game, the other being his 34-point, 12-assist performance against Toledo in 2024. Purdue also extended their incredible streak to 132 consecutive victories when scoring 90+ points.
Looking ahead, the Boilermakers will host No. 19 Iowa on Wednesday. Iowa is scheduled to play No. 16 Illinois prior to the game against Purdue. Will Purdue be able to maintain their winning streak against a tough Iowa team? And more importantly, can Braden Smith continue his dominant play throughout the season? What adjustments will opposing teams make to try and contain him? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
