Purdue Cruises Past Iowa 78-57 Behind Balanced Scoring and Team Play

C.J. Cox and Gicarri Harris each scored 14 points as No. 13 Purdue used efficient offense and strong ball movement to defeat Iowa 78-57 on Saturday in Iowa City.

The Boilermakers (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) extended their winning streak to four while wrapping up a stretch of six of eight games on the road. Purdue, which leads the nation in assists per game, recorded 20 assists on 25 field goals. Braden Smith accounted for 12 of those assists, highlighting the team’s unselfish play. Trey Kaufman-Renn contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Fletcher Loyer added 12 points.

Iowa (18-7, 8-6) was aiming to rebound after a 77-70 loss at Maryland on Wednesday but struggled to find consistent scoring against a disciplined Purdue defense. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 19 points. Iowa finished 37.7 percent from the field, bolstered slightly by making nine of their last 13 attempts late in the game.

Purdue built a 36-25 halftime lead, fueled by a 15-2 run, and never allowed Iowa to get back within striking distance. The Boilermakers’ balance and ball movement highlighted why they remain one of the top teams in the Big Ten and are positioned for a strong finish down the stretch.

With the victory, Purdue looks ahead to hosting No. 1 Michigan on Tuesday night in a matchup that could have significant Big Ten standings implications.

Iowa returns home to face No. 7 Nebraska on Tuesday, hoping to regain momentum in front of its home crowd.