Braden Smith leads No. 20 Purdue to 79-61 rout of Northwestern

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Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) reacts after being fouled in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) brings the ball upcourt in front of Northwestern guard Angelo Ciaravino (44) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) shoots after being fouled by Northwestern guard K.J. Windham, back, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue forward Raleigh Burgess, center, looks to shoot around Northwestern center Keenan Fitzmorris, left, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue guard C.J. Cox (0) steps around Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli (2) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) shotos over Northwestern guard Justin Mullins (20) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue guard Gicarri Harris (24) looks to shoot around Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue head coach Matt Painter watches from hte sideline as his team plays Northwestern in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Northwestern forward Luke Hunger (33) fights for a rebound with Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, front left, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) shoots over Northwestern defenders in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue guard Jack Lusk pulls down a rebound while playing Northwestern in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer shoots over Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) battles for a rebound with Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli (2) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli (2) passes the ball around Purdue forward Camden Heide (23) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

By MARK AMBROGI

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Braden Smith had 22 points and seven assists to lead No. 20 Purdue to a 79-61 rout of Northwestern on Sunday.

Smith, who scored 17 of his points in the first half, hit 8 of 16 shots for the Boilermakers (11-4, 3-1 Big Ten). Trey Kaufman-Renn and C.J. Cox each scored 12 points for Purdue.

Angelo Ciaravino led the Wildcats (10-5, 1-3) with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Brooks Barnhizer, who graduated from nearby Lafayette Jefferson High School, and Jalen Leach each had 11 points. Barnhizer, who was averaging 20.1 points entering the game, struggled from the field, making 4 of 15 shots.

The Boilermakers led by as many as 29 points at 63-34 with 11:21 left in the second half. They scored the first seven points and never trailed.

The Boilermakers shot 59% in the first half while holding Northwestern to 25%.

Takeaways

Northwestern: Ciaravino was a bright spot as he was averaging just 3.3 points prior to the game. Nick Martinelli, who averaged 20.1 points entering the game, had 10 points on 2-of-8 shooting.

Purdue: The Boilermakers continue to dominate at home, winning a 25th consecutive home game. Purdue has now won three in a row after a stretch where it lost three of four games.

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Key moment

Myles Colvin sank a 3-pointer to give Purdue a 25-14 lead to fire up the crowd. Colvin, who had been mired in a shooting slump, was 1 of 16 from 3-point range in the previous five games. Colvin added a second 3-pointer in the second half, finishing with seven points.

Key stat

Purdue held the Wildcats to 38% from the field, including 28% from 3-point range. In contrast, Purdue shot 51% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.

Up next

Northwestern plays host to Michigan State on Jan. 12 while Purdue is at Rutgers on Thursday.

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