'It Feels Good to Make Shots': Purdue's Ethan Morton Finding Rhythm Offensively
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue basketball's defensive ace Ethan Morton is oftentimes the last option on the offensive end of the court, but when his shots are finding the bottom of the net, it only adds another dimension to the team's scoring.
Morton's contributions on defense make him a staple in the starting lineup for the Boilermakers, and he is most often found chasing the Big Ten's top perimeter scorers on game day.
But in the team's 82-55 win over Ohio State on Sunday at Mackey Arena, he added seven points on an efficient 2-of-3 shooting, knocking down both of his shots from the 3-point line.
"For me to like literally just do anything on offense helps us as the last guy. So it feels good to make shots," Morton said. "Just have to continue to be aggressive, cut down on the turnovers and just make simple plays. A couple times in the second half I did a little bit too much. I think it's great for us. Hopefully, I can keep it going."
Purdue fell behind early in the face of Ohio State's full-court press, turning the ball over twice in the first minute of play. Morton was at fault for one of those mistakes, and the Buckeyes quickly jumped to an 8-2 lead.
The Boilermakers turned things around with a 12-2 run to go ahead 14-10 with 14:29 still to go in the half, and they would never trail the rest of the way.
After junior forward Mason Gillis made a pair of free throws, Morton jumpstarted the scoring surge by stealing the ball away from Ohio State senior forward Justice Sueing and passing the ball up the floor in transition.
Once Purdue got settled in the half court, the ball made its way around to Morton's waiting arms, and he hit an early 3-pointer to cut the deficit down to just one.
Morton played 15 minutes in the first half, and after a trip to the free-throw line, he went into the locker room with four points to go along with three assists and two rebounds. The Boilermakers led by nine points at the break.
They quickly extended that lead in the second half, as Gillis penetrated the Buckeyes' defense before finding Morton open on the perimeter once again. He drilled the 3-pointer to give the team a 12-point lead.
Purdue's lead stayed at double digits for the remainder of the game, leading by as many as 31 points in the dominant victory.
"Those first five minutes are something that we've always thought are very important in both halves," Purdue junior center Edey said. "Just coming out and setting the tone. Leads can evaporate in the first five minutes or they can grow."
Morton was one of nine players to score at least four points for the Boilermakers. Edey led the way on the scoring front, putting up a game-high 26 points. But when everyone is contributing to the offense, it opens up space for the 7-foot-4 big man underneath the basket.
Ever since Morton shot recorded a season-high 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting during a road victory against Ohio State back on Jan. 5, he is 10-of-29 from the 3-point line. For Purdue to have a strong finish to the regular season, he will look to continue contributing on both ends of the court.
"Obviously, they help me a lot on offense with their spacing. Everyone on our team can really shoot, so it helps give me a lot of room," Purdue junior center Zach Edey said. "It's not really just me on this team. We got a lot of guys that can really play.
"Everyone's wearing the Purdue uniform for a reason. We're a top team in the country. I'm not a top team in the country, we are. I think people don't give them the credit they deserve."
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.