Purdue Moves On To Round of 32 With 75-63 Win Against High Point

By Tiffany Williams –

On a crisp Thursday afternoon in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, the Amica Mutual Pavilion buzzed with anticipation as No. 13 High Point clashed with No. 4 Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship – Midwest Region.

From the outset of the game, Purdue’s starters showcased their dominance, racking up an impressive 26 points in the first period, while High Point struggled to keep pace, managing only 13 points. Purdue’s offensive strategy excelled, generating a remarkable 24 points in the paint, coupled with two fast break points, four points from forced turnovers, 14 second chance points, and 11 contributions off the bench. In contrast, the High Point Panthers found the net for only two fast break points, two second chance points, and six points off turnovers, with a mere eight points coming from inside the paint and 14 from their bench players.

As the clock wound down at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, Purdue maintained control, culminating in a decisive 75-63 victory over High Point in this crucial tournament matchup.

Purdue entered the tournament as one of only eight teams nationally—and four in the NCAA Tournament—boasting rankings in the top 20 for both field goal and three-point shooting percentages. During the game, they executed their offense with finesse, drilling five three-pointers, making 46 points off two-pointers, converting 14 points off free throws, and scoring 16 points off layups. They finished the game with a robust 38 points in the paint, eight points from forced turnovers, and 20 second chance points, while managing just two points on fast breaks.

The Boilermakers’ starting lineup, composed of Trey Kaufman-Renn, Caleb Furst, C.J. Cox, Braden Smith, and Fletcher Loyer, delivered a stellar performance, combining for a formidable 53 points. Off the bench, Camden Heide emerged as a pivotal player, contributing 11 points, while teammates Berg, Harris, and Covlin collectively added another 11 points. Kaufman-Renn’s presence was felt on the boards, as he secured four offensive and four defensive rebounds.

Heide, in particular, proved to be a game-changer off the bench, finishing with four offensive rebounds and six defensive rebounds, showcasing his tenacity on the glass.

The High Point Panthers arrived ready to compete, but their firepower fell short against Purdue’s unyielding defense. The Panthers managed to sink ten three-pointers, score 26 points from two-pointers, hit seven points from free throws, and secure 12 points from layups. Inside the paint, they registered 22 points, while also gaining nine points off forced turnovers, eight second chance points, and eight points on fast breaks. D’Maurian Williams led the Panthers with 12 points, and Trae Benham added 11 points from the bench.

This marked Purdue’s first return to the NCAA Tournament opening rounds in New England since 2019, when they triumphed over Old Dominion and Villanova in Hartford, Connecticut, making their way to the Elite Eight.