Fletcher Loyer scored a game-high 16 points Friday night and No. 14 Purdue put the clamps on Northern Kentucky in a 72-50 nonconference win in West Lafayette, Ind.
Trey Kaufman-Renn added 14 for the Boilermakers (2-0), while Braden Smith chipped in 11 points and seven assists, going 3 of 7 from the 3-point line. Purdue shot 52.9 percent from the field, hitting 9 of 22 from distance, and drew 19 assists on 27 field goals.
But the game was decided on the other end of the floor, as Northern Kentucky (0-2) again experienced issues scoring. After hitting just 38.8 percent Monday night in a season-opening 74-62 loss to Florida State in Tallahassee, the Norse made just 29.8 percent in this one, managing only 5 of 23 from deep.
Trey Robinson, Sam Vinson and Keeyan Itejere each scored eight points for Northern Kentucky. Guard Josh Dilling, who tallied 18 points at Florida State, hit just 3 of 13 from the field and was held to seven on Friday.
The Boilermakers led by at least 12 points throughout the second half, stretching the margin to 20 for the first time at 58-38 when Smith sank a 3-pointer with 8:31 left.
Purdue wasted little time putting its stamp on this one, scoring on its first seven possessions and establishing an 18-4 advantage at the 15:03 mark on two free throws by Kaufman-Renn. The Boilermakers canned four 3-pointers in that stretch, two by Loyer.
Northern Kentucky found some traction at that point and worked its way into contention, cutting the deficit to 21-16 with 7:16 left when Paulis Rapolis converted a layup to end a run of nine straight points.
However, Purdue controlled the remainder of the half. Beginning with Kaufman-Renn’s putback with 6:19 on the clock, the Boilermakers went on a 13-4 run for a 34-20 advantage on Myles Colvin’s transition bucket at the 1:28 mark. The Boilermakers settled for a 37-24 cushion at the break.
Northern Kentucky hit only 32.1 percent of its field goals in the half.
–Field Level Media
