Purdue 68 Oregon 64

Purdue Struggles but Holds on to Defeat Last-Place Oregon

Oregon trailed for the majority of the game but managed to always keep the score close.
Oregon went on a 7-0 run between the 6 and 5-minute mark of the 2nd half to go up 4, but collapsed down the stretch. Oregon went 0 for their last 7 field goal attempts in the final 4:38.
Trailing 63-62 with 51 seconds left in the game, Fletcher Loyer hit the most crucial shot of the game with a long NBA-range three from the top of the key to put Purdue back in the lead. Purdue never trailed from that point on.
Key Stats
Despite Purdue’s heralded bigs, Oregon won the battle in Points-in-the-Paint, 30-24, thanks to Nate Bittle and Kwame Evans Jr.
Purdue only shot 35% in the second half.
Both teams struggled with turnovers, Purdue with 14 and Oregon with 13
Key Individual Performances
Oregon’s Nate Bittle led all scorers with 23 points.
Purdue was led by Fletcher Loyer’s 18 points including 3-4 from the three-point line.
Braden Smith’s assist-to-turnover ratio was unusually negative. Smith only had 4 assists while committing 6 turnovers. This will make Smith’s attempt at beating Bobby Hurley’s NCAA career assist record even more challenging.
What it means
Purdue moves up to a tie for 4th place in the Big Ten standings thanks to a Wisconsin loss at Indiana today. Purdue has three very challenging games in the next 10 days: at Nebraska on Tuesday, at Iowa next Saturday, and home against Michigan February 17.
Purdue picked up a Quad 3 win and should remain as a projected 3-seed in the NCAA tournament.
Oregon falls to 1-11 in conference play and well out of contention for any post-season play. They are currently tied with Penn State for last place in the Big Ten and will probably will not be invited to participate in the Big Ten Tournament in March.
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