No. 2 Purdue basketball (USA TODAY) has a potentially grueling week in paradise starting with a game against No. 10 Gonzaga in the Maui Invitational.
The Boilermakers (3-0) have beaten Samford, Morehead State and Xavier. Zach Edey (20.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.6 blocked shots) and Braden Smith (11.7 points, 8.3 assists) lead Purdue, which has hit 46.3% of its 3-pointers and is +11 rebounding per game.
The Bulldogs (2-0) have beaten Yale and Eastern Oregon. Five Gonzaga players average double figures: Braden Huff (21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds), Graham Ike (18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds), Anton Watson (15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds), Nolan Hickman (13.5 points) and Ryan Nembhard (11.0 points, 5.0 assists), the younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard.
The Maui Invitational field includes No. 1 Kansas, No. 5 Marquette, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 24 UCLA, Syracuse and host Chaminade.
We will have updates throughout the game, so please refresh for the latest.
Final: Purdue 73, Gonzaga 63
The Boilermakers win the second half 43-28 behind attacking offense and defense. Gonzaga gets 0 3-pointers in the second half.
Zach Edey scores 25 points and adds 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, while Braden Smith (also 6 assists, 5 steals, 4 rebounds) and Lance Jones (4 rebounds, 2 steals) add 13 points each. The Boilermakers go just 4-of-17 on 3-pointers, but the Zags are just 6-of-32.
Purdue plays Tennessee in Tuesday’s semifinals. The Volunteers beat Syracuse in Monday’s opener.
3:45 left 2H: Purdue 66, Gonzaga 55
Myles Colvin hits a 3-pointer from the left corner, giving the Boilers their first double-digit lead.
4:33 left 2H: Purdue 61, Gonzaga 55
The Boilermakers now own edges in field goal shooting and rebounds, and neither team can hit a 3-pointer. Gonzaga starts shooting the bonus with 7:05 to go, but the Bulldogs are 1-of-4 on free throws so far.
7:30 left 2H: Purdue 56, Gonzaga 51
Even with Zach Edey on the bench, Purdue keeps attacking on both ends. Layups by Lance Jones and Trey Kaufman-Renn put the Boilers up 54-47. Gonzaga can’t buy a basket.
11:13 left 2H: Purdue 48, Gonzaga 45
Braden Smith finds Cam Heide for an alley-oop dunk. Smith has 10 points, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds.
13:14 left 2H: Purdue 46, Gonzaga 43
Timeout Gonzaga. Lance Jones is attacking and is up to 11 points. Zach Edey has 19 points and 10 rebounds. Braden Smith has 10 points, 4 steals and 3 assists.
15:46 left 2H: Gonzaga 41, Purdue 40
Mason Gillis’ free throw puts Purdue up 40-39 with 16:26 to go, but Dusty Stromer answers for the Zags.
Purdue surges early in the half and ties it at 39 on Lance Jones’ 3 with 16:59 left. Jones has 7 points since halftime.
Halftime: Gonzaga 35, Purdue 30
Zach Edey (4-of-11 shooting) has 15 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Braden Smith has 8 points.
Gonzaga center Graham Ike has 10 points.
From the field: Gonzaga 40%, Purdue 37%
3-pointers: Gonzaga 6-of-19, Purdue 1-of-6
Free throws: Gonzaga 1-of-2, Purdue 9-of-11
Rebounds: Gonzaga 21, Purdue 18
Purdue cuts its deficit to 3 points late in the half.
3:41 left 1H: Gonzaga 30, Purdue 23
Zach Edey is having trouble offensively against single coverage by Graham Ike. Edey is 3-of-9 from the floor.
Braden Smith’s jumper with 7 minutes left makes him 4-of-4 from the field for a team-leading 8 points.
7:51 left 1H: Gonzaga 25, Purdue 19
The Boilermakers are entering the bonus coming out of the timeout. Purdue has committed 1 foul.
10:04 left 2H: Gonzaga 23, Purdue 17
The Zags are 4-of-8 from 3-point range; Purdue is 10-of-4.
Graham Ike has hit 2 3-pointers as Zach Edey lets him shoot from long range. Ike has 10 points, Edey 6.
Braden Smith’s jumper with 13:43 to go snaps Gonzaga’s 14-0 run.
14:44 left 1H: Gonzaga 12, Purdue 6
The Zags strike with 12 straight. The Boilers are 3-of-10 from the field, going scoreless since Lance Jones’ basket with 18:27 to go. Purdue’s first two plays: Zach Edey on the block for baskets.
Zach Edey is big in Hawaii
Maui Invitational schedule
Monday, Nov. 20, 2023
2:30 p.m. ET, Game 1: Tennessee vs. Syracuse, ESPN2
5 p.m. ET, Game 2: Purdue vs. Gonzaga, ESPN2
9 p.m. ET, Game 3: Kansas vs. Chaminade, ESPNU
11:30 p.m. ET, Game 4: UCLA vs. Marquette, ESPN2
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023
2:30 p.m. ET: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, ESPN2
5 p.m. ET: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, ESPN2
8 p.m.. ET: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, ESPN
10:30 p.m. ET: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, ESPN
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023
2:30 p.m. ET: Third-place game, ESPN2
5 p.m. ET: Championship game, ESPN
9:30 p.m. ET: Seventh-place game, ESPNU
Midnight ET: Fifth-place game, ESPN2