Zach Edey, top-ranked Purdue basketball throttle Michigan State

WEST LAFAYETTE – The more the officials didn’t call fouls on Michigan State defending Zach Edey, the more animated Purdue’s 7-foot-4 junior became.

Edey’s answer? Take over the game.

The leading candidate for national player of the year did just that, dominating a first-half stretch to pace the top-ranked Boilermakers to a 77-61 victory over Michigan State at Mackey Arena.

Purdue (21-1, 10-1), winners of eight straight, maintains its two-game lead in the loss column in the Big Ten standings as the second half of the conference race is underway.

Edey scored 12 of 14 points as the Boilermakers quickly pulled away after the Spartans closed within 22-17. But Edey – and his teammates – ended the first half on an 18-5 run to reach halftime with a 40-22 advantage.

The first 20 minutes finished with a David Jenkins Jr. 3-pointer after MSU was called for a tripping foul with six seconds on the clock. Tom Izzo was whistled for a technical foul following Jenkins’ basket. Braden Smith hit two free throws to start the second half.

Edey reached the 30-point mark for the second time against the Spartans, totaling a career-high 38 on 15 of 24 shooting. Edey pulled down 12 rebounds. Jenkins scored 11 points, hitting three 3-pointers.

Purdue’s bench contributed 13 points in the first half before Edey and the Boilermakers went on the run before halftime.

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PHYSICAL PLAY SPARKS EDEY

The junior certainly enjoys facing the Spartans.  

He embraces the physicality that Izzo’s teams bring. And the Spartans brought it Sunday probably to see how much they could get away with.  

But each time Michigan State pushed, Edey pushed back with another key play to keep Purdue ahead.  

“They play super physical and they kind of foul every time and that kind of gets me going,” said Edey, who scored 22 points after halftime. “I like playing physical, I like playing those types of games. I kind of got going when they started fouling me, started hacking me and started doing things. They busted my lip in the second half. Those things got me going a little bit.”  

His 12-point outburst over four minutes completely turned the game in Purdue’s favor. Although the Spartans closed within 10 in the second half, Edey’s takeover was the difference in the Boilermakers staying comfortably atop the Big Ten standings. 

“They stay one on one,” said Edey, who didn’t commit a turnover in 32 minutes.  “It’s my job to score the ball. Sometimes in certain matchups, my job is to facilitate. Michigan State, their whole thing is playing just one on one. That’s something I’ve found success in.”  

Izzo has tried just about everything to slow down Edey but with little success. Double teams. Triple teams. However, MSU’s post players are normally left in one-on-one situations that ultimately leave them helpless.

Edey totaled 32 points and 17 rebounds and hit the game-winning basket nearly two weeks ago in East Lansing. He also made a combined 28 of 50 field goals.  

“He’s bigger than any player I’ve ever coached against,” Izzo said. “More skilled with his hands than any player I’ve coached against. They do a great job of getting him the ball.” 

JENKINS STEPS UP AGAIN

The production off the bench for the Boilermakers has been important in the last two games.  

Against Michigan, the reserves totaled 21 points and 14 rebounds. On Sunday, Jenkins, Brandon Newman, Mason Gillis and Trey Kaufman-Renn collected 21 points.  

“That was a big deal,” Izzo said of the bench production.  

Jenkins led the way by hitting 3 of 4 from 3-point range to give the Boilermakers another spark. He scored eight points in the victory at Michigan.  

“Each game I earn myself a little bit more playing time on the court. It started defensively,” Jenkins said. “I wasn’t hitting shots before these last couple of games.  

“Paint has trusted me to go out there and guard. That’s what I wasn’t known for in the previous years but that’s my role on this team. It’s led to me hitting a couple of shots.” 

Jenkins played nearly 19 minutes against the Spartans after being on the court for 14 minutes in the first half at Michigan.  

“It’s hard for him to adjust to his role since he’s never played this role, l like a lot of guys off the bench,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “When he gets it going, he can make plays.” 

MORE BALANCE

Do the Boilermakers need more scoring balance to continue their quest to win the Big Ten and advance deep in the NCAA tournament?

Maybe. Maybe not.  

Edey has proven he can carry Purdue in certain games and Painter is comfortable leaning on what works on a given night. Edey was working again on Sunday, and the Boilermakers rode his production to another victory.   

Jenkins was the other player who scored 10 or more points, but Fletcher Loyer finished with nine and Ethan Morton added six, including a 3-pointer to start the game.  

“You would like to have more balance at times but when you get against really good teams and if you find something that works, why go away from it?” Painter said. “We’ve always kind of been that way. The ability to throw the ball inside and his ability to make a good decision and when you deal with great players, they should have the right of first refusal. It doesn’t mean they shoot the basketball; they need to touch the basketball.”