Game Wrapping | Yale 84, #14 Purdue 92 | Small ball rules late

Purdue picks up its first win without true freshman Daniel Jacobsen, taking down Yale 92-84.

Behind a strong John Poulakidas game, Yale pressured Purdue early in the second half. The left-hander got going and scored the first four points of the second half, but every time Yale made a push, Purdue was able to answer.

Braden Smith once again led the way for Purdue. However, it was his defense that eventually pulled Purdue away from the Bulldogs. In transition, Smith was able to force a miss at the rim from Bez Mbeng. The ball would ricochet awkwardly toward the free throw line and Smith tracked it down. When Smith had the ball, he was at full steam. Yale couldn’t keep up, but Purdue’s Myles Colvin could.

Smith would drop a pass to Colvin, who would shoot up and finish the game with a thunderous one-handed dunk to give Purdue a 72-60 edge with 7:29 left.

Before Colvin’s dunk, it was another bench wing that helped spark Purdue’s run. Camden Heide, who hadn’t hit a three all season, knocked down two in a row in the second half. The first to give Purdue a 65-56 lead, and then a few plays later to extend Purdue’s lead to 70-60.

But Purdue’s offense began to dry up after the 72-60 lead, and Yale took advantage. Two questionable calls led to two turnovers and a Bez Mbeng three from the corner cut Purdue’s lead to 75-69 with 3:34 left. The next possession, Mbeng would fumble on a Myles Colvin screen and Yale would have the chance to cut the game to one possession as Purdue’s field goal drought stretched to four minutes.

But Purdue had one last answer with two Camden Heide free throws followed by the play of the night, when Braden Smith stole the in bounds pass on the ensuing possession and finished a layup at the rim to give Purdue a 79-69 lead.

Then Purdue did something it has struggled to do to this point in the season, making its free throws. Smith struck out two and Kaufman-Renn followed after drawing a blocking error on Bez Mbeng.

While Purdue made its free throws late, John Poulakidas put on a shooting clinic late. Poulakidas is one of the nation’s top scorers, and he showed it by knocking down back-to-back three-pointers in the final minutes over multiple Purdue defenders. His second step back cut the deficit to 88-82 with 32 seconds to play.

But Purdue continued to make enough free throws to hang on, 92-84.

It was Braden Smith who again led the way with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

John Poulakidas finished the game with 23 points for Yale.

Purdue’s wings proved strong with Myles Colvin playing inspired defense late against Poulakidas as well as scoring 9 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Camden Heide was also productive with 9 points and 6 rebounds.

Trey Kaufman-Renn had 17 points to go with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Purdue shot 11 of 23 from three and tied Yale for rebounds after trailing on the glass in the first half.

CJ Cox had his best game. The true freshman had 12 points to go with 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He finished the game as part of Purdue’s small ball lineup.

Gicarri Harris struggled and sat for most of the latter half of the second half after struggling to stay with John Poulakidas at defensive end.

Purdue won’t be able to enjoy this one for long. #2 Alabama comes to town Friday night.