As opposed to Purdue’s last home game against Iowa, ranked No. 17 six days ago when the two teams met, the Boilermakers’ most effective weapon against the Hawkeyes--the three-point shot--was used against them on Tuesday night.
No. 13 Penn State made 14 three-pointers in its 88-76 win over the Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.
Ten of the Nittany Lions’ three-pointers came in the first half, while the Boilers only made four of 14 from three-point range, and missed all eight attempts in the first half. Against Iowa last week, the Boilermakers poured in 19 buckets from three-point range.
Penn State senior forward Seth Lundy was the Nittany Lions’ hottest long-range shooter. He connected on six of nine beyond the arc and finished with 18 points. Teammate Mike Watkins came off the bench to score 19 points in 21 minutes and paced the Nittany Lions in overall scoring.
The win was Penn State’s seventh straight, a school record.
“Give them credit because they have an older team, an experienced team,” said PU coach Matt Painter.
Purdue sophomore forward Trevion Williams recorded a double-double with 17 points and ten rebounds. Freshman Isaiah Thompson and senior Jahaad Proctor both chipped in 15 points.
Meanwhile, three-point specialist Sasha Stefonovic, a sophomore from Crown Point, went 0-4 from beyond the arc. He entered the game with 38 percent shooting on the season from three-point range.
Purdue (14-11) had its three-game winning streak snapped. It was their third loss in Mackey Arena this season after going undefeated (15-0) at home last season.
Purdue, alone in eighth in the Big Ten with a 7-7 record, will play two road games against Ohio State on Saturday (Feb. 15th) and Wisconsin on February 18th.
