The Sports Xchange
Dec 21, 2017
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Carsen Edwards scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range, as No. 16 Purdue coasted to a 97-48 victory over Tennessee Tech on Thursday night.
Edwards finished one point shy of his career high, set against IUPUI on Dec. 10, and did not see the floor for the final 9:17.
P.J. Thompson added 17 points -- 16 in the first half -- as well as four rebounds and three assists.
Purdue (12-2) trailed in the opening minutes before mounting a 33-8 run that spanned 14:26 of the first half. The Boilermakers shot 66.7 percent in the first half and led 48-16 at halftime.
Tennessee State (5-6) attempted to play zone defense early, but the Boilermakers used their size advantage to pound the ball inside, outscoring the Tigers 20-0 in the paint in the first half.
Delano Spencer had a team-high 13 points despite shooting 4-of-11 from the field and Christian Mekowulu added 10 points and four rebounds.
The Tigers lacked any offensive rhythm for all but a 3:26 span early in the second half, when they outscored Purdue 17-7, and shot 6-of-24 from the field in the first half.
The Boilermakers reached the bonus with nearly eight minutes remaining in the first half as the Tigers picked up 12 first-half fouls, but they shot an uncharacteristic 64 percent from the free-throw line.
Dakota Mathias added seven points and a team-high 10 assists despite an off-shooting night. Mathias, who entered the game shooting 51.7 percent from the field, finished 2 of 10.
NOTES: The Boilermakers improve to 21-0 all-time against members of the Ohio Valley Conference. ... Tennessee State F Ken'Darrius Hamilton was assessed a technical foul after picking up his fourth personal foul with 18:03 remaining. He averaged 9.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds entering the contest, but finished with three points and one rebounds in just six minutes. ... Purdue F Matt Haarms scored a career-high 13 points to go with five rebounds and two blocks. ... This was the first meeting between the Purdue and Tennessee State. ... Purdue has now won five games this season by 30 or more points.