Zach Edey scored 19 points and Fletcher Loyer added 17 to help top-ranked Purdue defeat host Michigan 75-70 on Thursday night in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Purdue (20-1, 9-1 Big Ten) stretched its winning streak to seven games while securing the program’s first victory at Crisler Center since 2018.
Michigan (11-9, 5-4) stayed afloat behind the one-two punch of Hunter Dickinson and Kobe Bufkin. Dickinson had 21 points and Bufkin followed with 16 despite enduring an eight-minute stretch in the second half when he didn’t take a shot.
Edey grabbed a game-best nine rebounds, falling one board short of his eighth double-double in the past nine games. Dickinson was the Wolverines’ top rebounder with seven as Purdue finished with a 34-26 edge on the glass.
The Boilermakers led by 11 points in the second half, building on a strong start coming out of the break. Mason Gillis stole the ball on the opening possession and pushed it to Loyer, who drilled a 3-pointer.
The Wolverines drew to within five points on Dug McDaniel’s jumper with 8:17 to play but were unable to come closer until Joey Baker (11 points) hit a trey with five seconds left to put Michigan down by three. Brandon Newman swished a pair of free throws for Purdue to account for the final margin.
Michigan committed just six turnovers and shot 44.1 percent, including 9-for-25 (36 percent) from long range. Purdue has not allowed an opponent to score more than 70 points this season.
Braden Smith added 10 points for the Boilermakers.
Dickinson contributed a game-high four assists, one better than McDaniel.
Edey scored 15 first-half points on 7-for-12 shooting and recorded blocks on back-to-back possessions late in the half to spark the Boilermakers to a 41-35 lead at the break. Purdue shot 51.7 percent while using a 15-0 run late in the half before the Wolverines responded with a 7-0 spurt.
Jett Howard missed the game for Michigan with a left ankle injury, while older brother Jace Howard returned from a two-game absence after recovering from a concussion.
–Field Level Media