The No. 17 Indiana Hoosiers finished off a regular-season sweep of their in-state rival, the No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers, with a convincing 81-69 victory on Sunday afternoon. The Hoosiers used a balanced attack to overcome a hot-shooting Purdue team, led by freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis, who scored a game-high 19 points.
Indiana’s defense was the key to the victory, as they held the Boilermakers to just 37.3 percent shooting from the field. Indiana also forced Purdue into 18 turnovers, which the Hoosiers converted into 18 points.
The Hoosiers also got a big boost from the bench, with freshman Armaan Franklin leading the way with 12 points. He was joined by fellow freshman Anthony Leal, who added 10 points, and sophomore Jerome Hunter, who chipped in 8 points.
The Boilermakers were led by Sasha Stefanovic, who scored 18 points, and Trevion Williams, who added 17 points. Purdue shot a respectable 41.2 percent from the field, but their 18 turnovers proved to be too much to overcome.
The win was a big one for Indiana, as it gives them the season sweep of the Boilermakers and keeps them in the hunt for a Big Ten title. With the win, Indiana improves to 19-8 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten. Purdue falls to 19-8 overall and 12-6 in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers will now turn their attention to the Big Ten Tournament, where they will look to make a run and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue, meanwhile, will look to regroup and get back on track in the tournament.
No matter the outcome, Sunday’s game was a great game between two of the top teams in the Big Ten. Indiana’s defense was the difference, and their balanced attack was too much for Purdue to handle. It was a great way to finish off the regular season, and both teams will be looking forward to the Big Ten Tournament.
