PHOTO GALLERY: Purdue Falters Down the Stretch in 64-58 Loss to Northwestern
EVANSTON, Ill. — Purdue basketball suffered its third loss of the season on Sunday, falling 64-58 against Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Boilermakers finished the game with 16 turnovers, allowing the Wildcats to take the lead in the final minutes with a deciding 12-1 run. They shot just 6-of-21 in the second half and missed 13 straight 3-pointers after starting the game 5-of-9 from deep.
"They just were physical towards the end, and it kind of knocked us off," Purdue freshman point guard Braden Smith said. "And we just weren't able to knock down those shots."
Junior center Zach Edey led the team with 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting and a 10-of-13 mark from the free throw line. He made five of the team's six shots from the field in the second half.
Northwestern senior guard Boo Buie posted a game-high 26 points to prevent Purdue from ever racing to an insurmountable lead, and Chase Audige had 15 points in the second half to spark the Wildcats' late run.
"He's a streaky guy," Purdue coach Matt Painter said of Audige. "He's a guy that can take bad shots and be on your team, and then take bad shots and be on their team. That's just the way he is. The thing that he has done for that team is how hard he's played and how he's defended."
PHOTO GALLERY: Northwestern 64, Purdue 58
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) defends Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0).
Caleb Furst
Northwestern Wildcats forward Tydus Verhoeven (10) defends Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Furst (1).
Mason Gillis and Brandon Newman
Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) shoots over Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0).
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) blocks the shot of Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0).
Matt Painter
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter questions a call in a game against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half.
Zach Edey
Northwestern Wildcats forward Robbie Beran (31) and Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) go for the ball.
Fletcher Loyer
Northwestern Wildcats guard Ty Berry (3) defends Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2).
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) warms up before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats.
Braden Smith
Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) defends Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3).
Mason Gillis
Northwestern Wildcats guard Brooks Barnhizer (13) and guard Boo Buie (0) defend Purdue Boilermakers forward Mason Gillis (0).
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) blocks the shot of Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0).
Ethan Morton
Purdue Boilermakers guard Ethan Morton (25) defends Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0).
Welsh-Ryan Arena
Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0) celebrates the win against the Purdue Boilermakers as the students storm the court at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Purdue basketball
Northwestern Wildcats guard Ty Berry (3) celebrates a play against the Purdue Boilermakers.
Fletcher Loyer
Northwestern Wildcats guard Chase Audige (1) steals the ball from Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2).
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Related Stories on Purdue Basketball
- Late Turnovers Cost Purdue in 64-58 loss to Northwestern: Purdue turned the ball over six times in the final minutes and gave up a late 12-1 run during Sunday's loss at Northwestern. Junior center Zach Edey led the team with 24 points but also registered six turnovers. CLICK HERE
- Purdue Coach Matt Painter Reacts to Loss Against Northwestern: Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter addressed the media following the team's 64-58 loss to Northwestern on Sunday at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. The Boilermakers fell to 23-3 on the season and 12-3 in Big Ten play. CLICK HERE
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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.