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Behind stars Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue earns signature early win at Alabama

On3 imageby: Brian Neubert5 hours agobrianneubert
NCAA Basketball: Purdue at Alabama
Nov 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) drives to the basket during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Matt Painter always uses this time of year to gauge his teams’ competitive personalities — their toughness, urgency, effort, etc.

The second-ranked Boilermakers aced their first test Thursday night, closing on a 7-0 run to win at No. 8 Alabama, 87-80, Purdue’s third win over the Crimson Tide in as many seasons.

This came on the heels of Purdue accruing very few irrelevant style points in wins over Evansville and Oakland. AP voters actually dropped them from the No. 1 spot.

“They were great, man,” Painter said afterward. “They really responded.

“We found out a lot (about ourselves) just in our effort. I’m not saying we were perfect because we weren’t, but our effort was much better.”

Trey Kaufman-Renn missed those first two games. His return changed so much, as the Boilermakers clobbered the Tide in the rebounding column, grabbing 19 offensive rebounds and winning the backboard 52-28. He added 19 points to go along with his 15 rebounds, but closed the game out with his passing, doling out several key assists.

But it was Braden Smith‘s show. He scored 29 points.

The game was tied at 80 with 1:40 to play before Smith took the lead back. Alabama missed enough threes from there, Purdue got enough rebounds and made enough free throws to get out of Coleman Coliseum 3-0.

Purdue took a 79-71 lead with five minutes left after back-to-back Kaufman-Renn assists. Then, the star forward left the game briefly due to cramping, a testament to how hard he played and how physical the game was.

“The difference in this game, it was going to be doing all the simple things,” Kaufman-Renn said. “Blocking out, going to get rebounds, extra-effort plays. You have to do those when you play good teams just to have a chance. We did today.

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PURDUE COACH MATT PAINTER

Kaufman-Renn finished with 19, 15 rebounds and five assists.

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PDF: Purdue-Alabama statistics

Purdue grabbed 10 first-half offensive rebounds and weathered 10 ‘Bama threes to lead 43-41 at half, thanks largely to Kaufman-Renn’s 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists, a great start from Oscar Cluff and critical productive minutes off the bench from Omer Mayer.

Smith took it home, making five threes on the night, making late free throws and mercilessly attacking late-game matchups.

He rewarded the faith his coach showed in him by leaving him on the floor after he was hit with this third foul early in the second half.

“I was like, ‘Paint, I’m starting to get in a rhythm. I’m starting to actually feel like I’m in the flow of the game. Keep me in here.’ And he trusted me.”

PURDUE’S BRADEN SMITH

PURDUE’S TREY KAUFMAN-RENN

PURDUE’S DANIEL JACOBSEN

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