Zach Edey Braden Smith Purdue basketball Maui Invitational win Gonzaga

Purdue basketball overcomes struggles to defeat No. 10 Gonzaga 73-63. Edey finishes with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Purdue basketball faced its first challenge outside of Mackey Arena, and the results were mostly positive. Despite struggling from 3-point range and with turnovers, the second-ranked Boilermakers managed to defeat No. 10 Gonzaga 73-63 in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.

In a tight game, Purdue coach Matt Painter made a strategic decision to play freshman Myles Colvin instead of sophomore Fletcher Loyer, who was having an off day with his shooting. Colvin's consecutive 3-pointers put Purdue ahead by double digits, and the team's defense, led by Caleb Furst, helped secure the win.

Zach Edey's scoring wasn't at its best in the first half, but his performance at the free-throw line and his defensive play were crucial. He finished with an impressive 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Lance Jones continued to showcase his speed and contributed 13 points and two steals, while Braden Smith, known for his consistency, scored 13 points, had four rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

Despite the challenges, Purdue's victory demonstrated the team's resilience and ability to adapt to difficult circumstances. The game ended with a halftime score of Gonzaga 35-30, and Purdue's 3-point goals were 4-17, while Gonzaga's were 6-32. Purdue had 38 rebounds, with Edey securing 14 of them, and 11 assists, with Smith providing 6 of them. Gonzaga, on the other hand, had 31 rebounds and 13 assists. The game ended with a total of 12 fouls for Purdue and 19 for Gonzaga.