LIVE BLOG: Follow Friday's Purdue, Nebraska Game in Real Time; News and Analysis
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After its road matchup against Michigan was canceled, the No. 7-ranked Purdue basketball team hosts Nebraska on Friday at Mackey Arena. The 13-2 Boilermakers are playing in front of another sold-out crowd, looking for their second win in a row while the Cornhuskers enter the game 6-11.
Purdue has started 2-2 or better in Big Ten play in 15 of the 17 years under coach Matt Painter. The team also joins Loyola Chicago as one of the only teams without a double-digit loss since Feb. 1 of last year.
- HOW TO WATCH: If you are interested in how to watch from home, simply CLICK HERE for television information, points spread and nuggets on the game.
Here's how our live blog works. We'll keep you updated on everything that goes on in the game in real time, keeping you up to date on rotations, scoring plays and trends. Highlights will be included as they become available.
Purdue, with extended preparation, will have a chance to bring heavy focus to its weaknesses against a bottom-rank Nebraska squad. Let's get things started:
8:29 p.m. ET, FINAL — Purdue cruises to a 92-65 victory over Nebraska. Zach Edey led the team with 22 points and nine rebounds.
8:18 p.m. ET — Nebraska calls a timeout as Purdue takes an 86-56 lead with 4:16 to play.
8:10 p.m. ET — Purdue leads 76-50 with 7:25 to play. Zach Edey and Jaden Ivey are leading the way, each with 17 points.
8:08 p.m. ET — Sasha Stefanovic and Ethan Morton check into the game.
8:03 p.m. ET — A corner 3-pointer from Caleb Furst forces Fred Hoiberg and Nebraska to call a timeout. Purdue up 73-45 with 9:41 to play in the game.
8:02 p.m. ET — Zach Edey and Isaiah Thompson check into the game for Purdue.
7:55 p.m. ET — Purdue leads 66-43 with 11:51 left to play. The Boilermakers are on a 6-0 run over the last minute and change. Nebraska hasn't scored in over two minutes.
7:54 p.m. ET — Purdue is in the bonus with 12:06 left to play. Nebraska with eight fouls in the second half.
7:50 p.m. ET — Trevion Williams comes down with an offensive rebound and finds Brandon Newman in the corner for the first 3-pointer of the second half. Boilermakers are 1-7 from deep so far this half after a miss from Sasha Stefanovic.
7:49 p.m. ET — Eric Hunter Jr. and Brandon Newman back into the game.
7:45 p.m. ET — Purdue has a 57-41 lead over Nebraska with 14:55 left to play in the game. Neither team has been able to connect on a 3-pointer in the second half. Cornhuskers sitting at six fouls already.
7:43 p.m. ET — Trevion Williams back into the game after Zach Edey picks up a foul.
7:41 p.m. ET — Edey getting plenty of looks at the rim. He's 7-10 from the field so far and now 2-5 from the free-throw line. He leads the team with 16 points and Nebraska already has six fouls in the first three minutes of the second half.
7:37 p.m. ET — Zach Edey gets the scoring underway in the second half. Purdue breaks down a Nebraska zone for Edey to get a bucket while being fouled.
7:18 p.m. ET, HALFTIME — Trevion Williams scores before the end of the half, but Nebraska gets a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to make it a 48-33 game at the break. Jaden Ivey leads all scorers with 14 points.
7:16 p.m. ET — Matt Painter calls a timeout with 47 seconds left. Boilermakers have a 46-27 lead.
7:08 p.m. ET — Jaden Ivey is perfect so far in the first half. He's 3-3 from the field and 4-4 from the free-throw line for a team-high 12 points. The sophomore star has also hit on a pair of step-back 3-pointers, aiding Purdue to a 38-21 lead with 3:45 to play in the first half.
7:03 p.m. ET — Jaden Ivey, Sasha Stefanovic, Trevion Williams and Mason Gillis into the game for Purdue.
7:00 p.m. ET — Purdue has a 32-17 lead with 6:36 to play in the first half, but Nebraska has done a solid job clawing back from a massive deficit. The Cornhuskers have made four of their last five shots from the field.
6:55 p.m. ET — Brandon Newman and Zach Edey into the game for the Boilermakers.
6:51 p.m. ET — Purdue exploding to a 25-9 lead with 10:44 left to play in the first half. Boilermakers only have one turnover so far. Nebraska shooting just 36% from the field. Cornhuskers have seven turnovers and as many fouls.
6:49 p.m. ET — Ethan Morton and Caleb Furst into the game for Purdue.
6:46 p.m. ET — Nebraska calls a timeout with 14:26 in the first half. Purdue up 17-2 after Trevion Williams gets into the lane for a dunk in transition. Jaden Ivey followed with a step-back 3-pointer on the following possession.
Boilermakers on a 14-0 run over the last three minutes.
6:44 p.m. ET — Trevion Williams and Eric Hunter Jr. into the game for Purdue.
6:40 p.m. ET — Purdue has a 10-2 lead with 15:39 to play in the first half and is 5-6 from the free-throw line to start the game. Nebraska, already with seven fouls, hasn't scored in more than two minutes and has three turnovers in that span.
6:36 p.m. ET — Nebraska already with five fouls in the first three minutes of play. Purdue hasn't made much of chances on the offensive end, but it's retaining possession and getting some early shots at the free throw line.
6:31 p.m. ET — Purdue wins the tip, and Sasha Stefanovic gets a contested look from the 3-point line to start the game. Zach Edey is fouled on the rebound attempt, and the Boilermakers retain possession.
Stefanovic gets a second look from deep after the inbounds play, and he hits the first shot of the game.
PREGAME — Starting five for Purdue is unchanged from its last game:
- Sophomore forward Mason Gillis
- Sophomore center Zach Edey
- Junior guard Isaiah Thompson
- Sophomore guard Jaden Ivey
- Senior guard Sasha Stefanovic
Stories Related to Purdue Basketball
- MATT PAINTER, PLAYERS PREVIEW GAME AGAINST NEBRASKA: Purdue basketball's road matchup with Michigan was postponed due to health and safety concerns within the Wolverines' program. As a result, the team had extra time to prepare for a home game with Nebraska at Mackey Arena on Friday. CLICK HERE
- NEBRASKA FALTERS AGAINST ILLINOIS: Nebraska lost a home matchup with No. 25 Illinois on Tuesday night 81-71. The Cornhuskers were led by freshman guard Bryce McGowens, who scored 19 points. The team will play No. 7 Purdue at Mackey Arena on Friday. CLICK HERE
- PURDUE PREPARING FOR NEBRASKA: Purdue basketball followed its home loss to Wisconsin with a 74-67 victory over Penn State on the road, but fell to No. 7 in the AP Top 25 poll. The team will be back in action against Nebraska on Friday at Mackey Arena after its road matchup with Michigan was postponed. CLICK HERE
- BOILERS FALL TO NO. 7: Purdue dropped to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after a home loss to Wisconsin. The team followed with a road victory over Penn State, its first true road win of the season. The Boilermakers were among five Big Ten programs ranked this week. CLICK HERE
- PURDUE, MICHIGAN GAME POSTPONED: Purdue basketball's road matchup with Michigan has been postponed due to ongoing COVID-19 issues within the Wolverines' program. The Boilermakers' next game is Friday against Nebraska at Mackey Arena. CLICK HERE
Become Part of the Boilermakers Country Community!
- Follow D.J. Fezler on Twitter: @DJFezler
- Follow Boilermakers Country on Twitter: @sports_purdue
- Like and follow Boilermakers Country on Facebook