PHOTO GALLERY: Purdue Holds on for 63-61 Win Against Wisconsin at the Kohl Center
MADISON, Wis. — No. 5 Purdue basketball defeated Wisconsin 63-61 on Thursday night at the Kohl Center, winning the game by hitting free throws and making crucial stops in the final minutes.
The Boilermakers left the matchup as the Big Ten's outright regular-season champions. They had the honor wrapped up before the game even ended, as Illinois took down Michigan 91-87 in double overtime.
With the win, Purdue improved to 25-5 and 14-5 in conference play before closing the regular season at Mackey Arena on Sunday. Junior center Zach Edey led the way by scoring 17 points while coming down with 19 rebounds and adding three assists.
"We had a couple of tough stretches there in the game," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "I thought we got off to a good start, but just couldn't make free throws. You know, Zach had a couple of what should have been and-ones, missed dunks, gets fouled and doesn't make free throws. So we were doing some good things and just weren't getting any points out of it."
Edey drew three fouls early in the first half but went just 1-of-6 from the free-throw line. He had nine points and seven rebounds at halftime, and Purdue led 31-27 at the break.
Wisconsin put together an 11-1 run to take control, a stretch that was sparked by junior guard Max Klesmit. He finished the game with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and made 3-of-5 from the 3-point line.
But as scoring slowed, the Boilermakers closed the game by making nine free throws in the final four minutes of play. They didn't register a field goal in the last 5:42 but kept the Badgers at bay to take the win.
Purdue had seven players score at least four points in the game, and the team shot 50 percent from the floor despite going 4-of-19 from deep.
"Things kind of change as the season goes," Painter said. "And when you have a deep team, sometimes you don't get to play as much as you would like at times, and that's difficult. But our guys have been great. They're fun to coach, they're easy to coach and our staff's done a good job of putting together a team."
Purdue 63, Wisconsin 61
Zach Edey
Purdue center Zach Edey (15) blocks a shot by Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl (5).
Fletcher Loyer
Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) shoots a free throw.
Fletcher Loyer
Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer (2) scores on Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit (11).
Braden Smith
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) fouls Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23).
Matt Painter
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter looks on during the second half.
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) looks to pass under pressure by the Wisconsin Badgers defense.
Ethan Morton
Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) fouls Purdue Boilermakers guard Ethan Morton (25).
Ethan Morton and Caleb Furst
Purdue Boilermakers guard Ethan Morton (25) rebounds the ball with teammate Caleb Furst (1) against Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (14).
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) dunks the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Matt Painter
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter yells to his players during the first half.
Braden Smith
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) dribbles the ball during the first half.
Zach Edey
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) shoots a free throw during the first half.
Brandon Newman
Purdue Boilermakers guard Brandon Newman (5) steals the ball from Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11).
Caleb Furst
Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Furst (1) attempts to keep the ball inbounds during the first half.
Matt Painter
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter talks with forward Caleb Furst (1) during the second half.
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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.