Rutgers guard Dylan Harper (2) drives past Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)AP
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – If it wasn’t the early foul trouble for Rutgers, it was the failure to grab rebounds on Tuesday night. Then came the inability to stop the Boilermakers from burying threes.
Frustration and embarrassment mounted in the second half as Rutgers fell behind by as many as 30 points. Coach Steve Pikiell employed a range of defenses, from zones to full-court press, but nothing slowed No. 18 Purdue as the Boilermakers pounded the Scarlet Knights, 100-71, in front of a sold-out crowd of 14,876 on Senior Night at Mackey Arena.
Purdue’s junior guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer both hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 23 points each. Rutgers freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey combined for 25 points.
It was the most embarrassing display yet by a Scarlet Knights team that is now 14-16, a mark which guarantees a second consecutive regular season with a losing mark.
Rutgers will host Minnesota Sunday in its regular season finale. The Scarlet Knights will then head to the Big 10 Tournament in Indianapolis, which they will need to win in order to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Rutgers trailed, 50-41, at halftime. But then Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (16 points; 8 rebounds) opened the scoring inside, followed by the pair of 3-pointers that were the byproduct of Rutgers failing to secure the ball off the glass. When the deficit reached 58-41, Pikiell called a time out. Purdue led by 30 points with 12:20 remaining in the game. During that stretch, Loyer hit three shots from beyond the arc.
Ace Bailey got going early with a catch-and-shoot jumper from the right elbow. Then Dylan Harper hit a jumper from the right win, and Bailey hit a three from the right corner. Gaining momentum, Bailey blew by Purdue sophomore Camden Heide on the right side and wrapped around the rim to flush a dunk on the left side that left the boisterous capacity crowd momentarily silent. Forward Zach Martini followed with a dunk that extended the lead to 19-14.
Harper’s contributions were limited, though. After picking up a quick first foul, he was whistled for his second on a 3-pointer by Gicarri Harris, who proceeded to knock down the free throw as Harper was substituted out. With Harper on the bench, Smith, who became the Boilermakers all-time leader in assists last week, stroked back-to-back shots from beyond the arc.
Bailey kept Rutgers in it with a tough pull-up jumper and made free throw to tie the game again at 32-32. Harper returned with 4:59 remaining in the half after the Scarlet Knights fell behind, 40-36. But then Smith kept coming, punctuating his early output with an alley oop to senior Caleb Furst and then hitting another three to go up, 45-37.
Rutgers failed to keep pace with the inside threats of the Big 10 all season, and Tuesday night was no different. Kaufman-Renn powered his way to the basket early against Rutgers freshman forward Lathan Somerville. Then, when Rutgers brought center Emmanuel Ogbole off the bench, Kauffman-Renn beat him twice for easy layups.
Rutgers was coming off its last-second defeat to Michigan, which ended with the Wolverines hitting a 3-pointer over Harper.
Harper needed 15 points to surpass former Scarlet Knights guard Mike Rosario, but he finished with 13 points.
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Kevin Armstrong may be reached at karmstrong@njadvancemedia.com.