WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Zach Edey scored 20 points in 16 minutes, and No. 3 Purdue pounded Omaha 97-40 on Friday.
Purdue used a huge size advantage to outrebound the Mavericks 53-22 and outscore them in the paint 48-16. The Boilermakers improved to 6-0 for the first first since 2015-16 and just the fourth time in coach Matt Painter's tenure.
Omaha (1-5) was led by Darrius Hughes with 13 points. It lost its fifth straight — all on the road.
Purdue was the highest ranked team the Mavericks have played in their 11-year Division I era and the disparity was clear from the opening moments.
For the second straight game, Omaha took its only lead on its first basket — Dylan Brougham's 3-pointer.
The Boilermakers countered with a 29-0 run, a span in which they forced 12 consecutive missed shots and four turnovers. When Marco Smith finally ended the drought with 8:44 to go, the Mavericks already trailed 31-5.
The Boilermakers extended the margin to as much as 37 before heading to the locker room with a 52-17 lead. Purdue matched its highest scoring total in any half this season and methodically extended the margin throughout the second half.
Preseason All-American Trevion Williams had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Purdue. Edey also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
BIG PICTURE
Omaha: Coach Derrin Hansen's team never stood a chance with nobody on the roster listed as taller than 6-foot-9. They were outmatched on the perimeter, too. With six of the next seven at home, Omaha should simply leave this one in the past and focus on rebounding against a more manageable schedule.
Purdue: Edey, Williams and Caleb Furst dominated the middle against a much smaller team and with the Boilermakers going 7 of 12 on 3s in the first half, it was a devastating combination. While the Boilermakers cruised Friday, they'll need to be equally efficient against tougher foes.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Purdue won't get much help from a victory over a five-loss team that was picked to finish eighth in the Summit League this season. But UCLA's loss to Gonzaga puts the Boilermakers in the mix for the No. 2 spot next week.
STAT PACK
Omaha: It started and finished the five-game road trip with losses to Indiana teams — Ball State and Purdue. ... The Mavericks lost starting guard La’Mel Robinson with a season-ending injury before the Nov. 9 opener. ... Omaha shot just 27% from the field and was 5 of 28 on 3s.
Purdue: Brandon Newman scored 16 points and Jaden Ivey had 12. ... The Boilermakers won after earning their highest pre-Christmas ranking since 1987-88. ... Williams was honored before the game for joining the school's 1,000-point club. ... The Boilermakers are 9-0 all-time against Summit League schools.
UP NEXT
Omaha: Plays its first home game in three weeks when Southern Illinois-Edwardsville visits Tuesday.
Purdue: Hosts Florida State on Tuesday in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
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