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Texas A&M outlasts Purdue for signature nonconference win
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Texas A&M and Purdue met on Saturday in a signature nonconference matchup for both squads. That neutral-site game came in Indianapolis’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse as a near-home game for the Boilermakers.
However, the Aggies were not deterred. While it was a back-and-forth affair the entire way, it was the defense of Buzz Williams’s group that carried the day.
Overall, the Aggies had 4 blocks and 11 steals in the matchup while winning the rebound battle, 34-to-23. And to little surprise, Wade Taylor IV was the star for Texas A&M.
Taylor finished with 15 points, 5 assists, 5 steals and 3 rebounds while leading the Aggies with a trio of 3-point field goals. He was aided by Zhuric Phelps and Pharrel Payne who each contributed 16 points to lead A&M.
Payne was especially instrumental off the bench as Purdue never had an answer for the length and physical nature of the 6-foot-9 forward. He made all 6 of his field goal attempts and finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Meanwhile, A&M’s defense did its best to lock down on Purdue’s sharpshooters from deep. As a team, the Boilermakers went just 9-for-26 (34.6%) from 3-point range in the 70-66 loss, and that proved to be the difference.
Fletcher Loyer, averaging just over 2 made 3-pointers per game and shooting 52.5% from deep this season, finished just 0-for-2 from range with 12 points. It was only Loyer’s 2nd game of the season without a 3-point FG and his first since Nov. 23 in a blowout win over Marshall.
Braden Smith led Purdue with 15 points and chipped in 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals but could not get enough help from the supporting cast. Trey Kaufman-Renn was held in check for much of the game before finishing with 11 points.
The win moves A&M to 9-2 on the season and gives the SEC another marquee statement in nonconference action this season. The league has looked like a buzzsaw outside of SEC play at times.
The loss drops Purdue to 8-3 overall and moves the Boilermakers to 2-2 against ranked opponents so far this season.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
