UPDATE: In a thrilling matchup on Sunday night, Matt Painter celebrated his 500th career win as the head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers, defeating the Akron Zips 97-79 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. This milestone victory solidifies Painter’s legacy, with a record of 475 wins at Purdue and 25 wins at Southern Illinois.
Purdue’s standout performance was led by Trey Kaufman-Renn, who scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while Oscar Cluff added 14 points. The Boilermakers, now 4-0 this season, dominated the boards with a staggering 45-26 rebounding advantage, including 19 offensive rebounds. The team’s inside game was equally impressive, outscoring Akron 46-18 in points in the paint.
Throughout the game, Purdue showcased their shooting prowess, especially in the first half, hitting 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, establishing a commanding 52-39 halftime lead. Despite struggling with their three-point shooting in the second half, making just 1 of 11, they maintained control of the game with effective offensive strategies.
Akron’s Tavari Johnson led his team with 20 points, while teammate Evan Mahaffey contributed 12 points. However, the Zips faced challenges, including the underperformance of Shammah Scott, who was limited to just 9 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
Purdue’s next challenge comes against Memphis on Thursday in the Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas. Meanwhile, Akron will face Iona on Friday in the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This historic win not only marks a significant personal achievement for Painter but also highlights Purdue’s powerful start to the season, making them a formidable contender as they look ahead. Fans and sports enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement over this victory, eager to see how the Boilermakers will continue to build on their success.
