Purdue Reasserts Big Ten Contention With Dominant Road Win at Maryland

Purdue responded to recent adversity with its most authoritative performance in weeks Sunday, overwhelming Maryland 93 to 63 behind a first half shooting surge that reasserted the Boilermakers position in the Big Ten race.

Fletcher Loyer scored 29 points, including 21 before halftime, as Purdue built a decisive lead within the opening minutes and never allowed Maryland to regain footing. Braden Smith added 19 points and orchestrated the offense with precision as the Boilermakers snapped a three game losing streak and improved to 18 and 4 overall and 8 and 3 in conference play.

The outcome was largely settled early. Purdue opened the game on a 10 to 2 run highlighted by two Loyer three pointers, then expanded the margin during an 11 to 0 stretch fueled by Smith from beyond the arc to make it 25 to 7. Loyer continued the barrage with three more triples during an 11 to 2 run late in the half as Purdue entered the break ahead 49 to 28.

Loyer and Smith combined to go 9 of 12 from three point range in the first half, setting the tone for a night defined by spacing, tempo, and shot selection. Purdue finished the game with one of its most efficient offensive outings of the season while limiting Maryland to its lowest point total at home since the program began playing in this arena in 2002.

Smith now sits one point away from becoming the first player in Big Ten history to record 1,000 career conference points and 500 assists, underscoring his dual impact as a scorer and facilitator. Purdue’s ball movement consistently forced Maryland into rotation, creating clean perimeter looks and high percentage finishes inside.

Maryland fell to 8 and 13 overall and 1 and 9 in Big Ten play. Andre Mills led the Terrapins with 18 points, but offensive struggles persisted as Maryland was unable to slow Purdue’s early momentum or generate sustained runs. The loss marked the most lopsided defeat the program has suffered in this building and reflected ongoing challenges during its first season under coach Buzz Williams.

The result carried broader significance for Purdue after consecutive losses to UCLA, Illinois, and Indiana dropped the Boilermakers from the top tier of the national rankings. Sunday’s performance provided a reset both statistically and stylistically, restoring confidence ahead of a stretch that includes matchups against teams currently near the bottom of the conference standings.

Historically, the series between Purdue and Maryland has been competitive since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten in 2015, with few games decided by large margins. This victory represented only the second double digit win Purdue has recorded against Maryland and the most decisive result between the programs.

Purdue will host Oregon on Saturday as it looks to build momentum and stabilize its position in the Big Ten title conversation. Maryland returns home Thursday night to face Ohio State, searching for answers as conference play continues to intensify.

This latest result reshapes the immediate Big Ten outlook, signaling Purdue’s readiness to reenter the league’s upper tier while Maryland continues to navigate a difficult transition season.