Game Wrap: Purdue 56, Maryland 70

The Boilermakers brought an 8-game winning streak to the Xfinity Center, and a tie on top the Big Ten standings.

They walked away from their game against Maryland with their third loss in Big Ten play, 70-56, and one of their worst performances of the year in the second half, relinquishing a first half lead and getting rolled by a Maryland team that put constant pressure on Purdue’s guards and forced one of Purdue’s worst shooting performances in recent history.

While the Terrapins put constant pressure on Purdue, Carsen Edwards didn’t do his team any favors, forcing contested shots and not getting his teammates involved. He scored 24 points, but it took 27 shots to get there, and he had 0 assists in the game. He also struggled from the free throw line, making just 5 of 8 attempts.

Ryan Cline came into the night shooting 50% from three in conference play, and it looked like he was ready for another strong performance. He made all three of his three-points attempts in the first half, including a pull-up thirty footer that put Purdue up 38-30 going into the half. Those 9 points would be all he’d score in the game, missing everything in the second half and going 3 of 12 from the floor.

Cline wasn’t the only player to go cold in the second half. The entire Purdue team struggles to put anything in the basket. They finished the game shooting 20-71 from the floor and 7 of 33 from the three-point line.

Maryland, playing at home, was just too good for Purdue in the second half. They came out hot and then turned up their defense. They steam rolled Purdue in the final twelve minutes, finishing the game with a 28-8 run.

Purdue struggled to contain Bruno Fernando on the inside after Maryland’s big man had a quiet 3 point first half, making just one field goal. Fernando was too big and too skilled for both Purdue big men, getting Williams in foul trouble early, and then fouling out Matt Haarms in the second half. He finished the game with a double-double, 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Maryland edged Purdue in assists 17-5.

Maryland did not have a good shooting night. Purdue held them to 8 of 27 shooting from the perimeter, but the Terrapins big men attacked the glass and their guards found space in the mid-range and was able to knock them down in the second half.

Purdue had chances, but couldn’t convert open looks. Besides their stars shooting poorly, their bench went just 1 of 9 from three.

Trevion Williams was unable to stay on the floor and provide any inside presence for the Boilers because of foul trouble.

Purdue will have a few days to rest up and then host the Nittany Lions at Mackey on Saturday where they will look to bounce back from a hostile crowd and cold shooting night.