In Milwaukee, Purdue basketball’s impressive streak of 39 consecutive regular season non-conference victories came to an end on Tuesday night. The No. 14 Marquette Golden Eagles took advantage of strong defensive play, defeating the sixth-ranked Boilermakers 76-58 at Fiserv Forum. The loss marked the first time Purdue had dropped a regular season non-conference game since December 2020, highlighting the end of a remarkable nearly four-year run.
Marquette’s defense effectively disrupted Purdue’s potent offense, which had averaged an impressive 85.3 points per game heading into the match. Senior guard Kam Jones led Marquette with an outstanding performance, contributing significantly with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. Despite being targeted by Purdue’s defense, Jones also played a crucial role in facilitating his teammates’ success.
Purdue struggled to maintain its composure throughout the game, particularly during critical moments. After a close contest saw them trailing by five in the second half, missed opportunities due to turnovers and errant shots allowed Marquette to pull away. The Boilermakers had already accumulated nine turnovers by halftime, a stark contrast to their recent improvement in ball control, and this ultimately led to 10 points for Marquette off those mistakes.
Highlight performers included Fletcher Loyer from Purdue, who continues to show promise by scoring 13 points, marking his fifth consecutive game in double figures. On the opposing side, along with Jones, Stevie Mitchell also shone, recording a game-high 21 points and matching the highest number of steals with teammate Chase Ross.
While the loss may be disheartening for Purdue, it serves as a reminder for the team to reinforce their strategies and focus on minimizing turnovers. The experience gained in this challenging environment could help the Boilermakers regroup and come back stronger in the challenging games ahead.
As the season progresses, there is still plenty of time for the team to recalibrate, learn, and build on their previous successes. With the talent they possess, there is hope that this setback will propel them to greater heights as they approach the rest of the season.