NEWS
Top-Ranked Purdue Holds Off Upset-Minded Wildcats, 69-61
Foster Loyer seemed to defy gravity with this aerobatic layup in the game vs. VMI. Loyer played against his younger brother, Fletcher, in the game at Purdue.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Zach Edey scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as top-ranked Purdue pulled away late from upset-minded Davidson, 69-61, in the Indy Classic Saturday evening from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Playing their 11th game in school history against the No. 1 team in the country, the Wildcats fall to 7-4 on the season. The Boilermakers remain unbeaten, improving to 11-0.
Despite the loss, Sam Mennenga paced Davidson with 14 points, while fellow captain Foster Loyer recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 assists.
Purdue, which got to the line 37 times (28 makes) to just 11 attempts for the Wildcats, used an 8-3 spurt late to push the margin to nine, 66-57, and all but put the game out of reach.
Trailing 39-31 at the 15:42 mark, Davidson cut the deficit to one, 42-41, highlighted by 3-pointers from David Skogman and Connor Kochera, but were unable to go back in front.
The Boilermakers also got double-doubles from Caleb Furst (12 pts, 13 rebs) and Braden Smith (10 pts, 12 rebs), while Fletcher Loyer, Foster’s younger brother, added 14 points, including a 9-of-10 effort at the line.
After Purdue raced out to a 9-0 advantage, Davidson settled in and responded with a 15-5 spurt, capped by a Mennenga two-handed jam to put the Wildcats on top, 15-14.
The two teams traded buckets over the last seven minutes of the opening period as the ‘Cats trailed by just one at the half, 28-27.
Up Next
Davidson will close out non-conference play Wednesday, Dec. 21 with a 1 p.m. tip against Northeastern inside John M. Belk Arena.