Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the Scarlet Knights have been one of Purdue’s punching bags in conference play. But not anymore.
No. 14 Rutgers (7-1) defeated the Boilermakers, 81-76, at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J., for the Scarlet Knights’ third win in a row over the Boilers (7-4) after losing eight straight to them at one point. The Scarlet Knights, whose only loss this season was at Ohio State two days before Christmas, are enjoying their highest national ranking since their Final Four season in 1976.
Scarlet Knights guard Paul Mulcahy connected on a three-pointer with less than 8 minutes to go in the game to put Rutgers in the lead for good, 61-59. The Scarlet Knight led by as many as 15 points in the first, but Purdue cut the lead to six by halftime. To open the second half, Purdue went on a 12-4 run to grab their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
Averaging 6.9 three-point field goals a game, Rutgers surpassed that total by hitting 11 of 21 against Purdue. Montez Mathis burned the nets for five three-pointers without missing and scored a career-high 25 points.
“If you expect to go on the road and beat a quality team, a top 15 team, you have got to be better on the defensive end,” said coach Matt Painter following the game, “it's one of those things where, you have to put time into it, watch film, see your mistakes, and just keep working at it.”
Purdue’s Trevion Williams paced the Boilers scoring with 21 points and added 12 rebounds for his third double-double this season. Isaiah Thompson, a sophomore from Zionsville, chipped in with 17 points off the bench, which ties his career-high. He tallied 17 against Chicago St. last season.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Boilermakers, who will make the 91-mile trip to Champaign, Illinois, to face the No. 15 Fighting Illini on Saturday.
