Purdue 75, High Point 63 Game Recap

[Providence, RI]- The Purdue Boilermakers are on to the Round of 32 after a 75-63 win over High Point.

1st Half

The first game of Purdue’s 2025 NCAA Tournament run started with neither team finding much separation. Through the first fourteen minutes of play, the largest lead was Purdue by four points. The Boilermakers started to pull away late in the first half, first at 31-25, then the largest lead of the first half at 37-27 on a Will Berg tip shot at the buzzer. The game was tied four times in the first half and there were eight lead changes.

Purdue went 12-23 from the field in the first half and hit 3-6 three pointers. The Boilermakers also went 8-12 from the paint for 16 of their 35 first half points.

Braden Smith went 3-8 from the field and hit one three-pointer. Trey Kaufman-Renn went 5-7 from the field with four of those makes coming in the paint.

2nd Half

After giving up a dunk to Juslin Bodo Bodo, Kaufman-Renn re-established Purdue’s ten-point lead at 39-29. The Boilermakers would keep High Point at arm’s length through most of the second half, but did allow them to get within three with 7:47 left. Fletcher Loyer, Camden Heide, Kaufman-Renn, and Braden Smith would ensure that was as close as High Point got to a possible upset, leading the scoring charge the rest of the game. Loyer put the bow on the game with a free throw to put Purdue ahead 75-63 with :26 left in the game.

Stats

For the team stats, Purdue outshot High Point with a 45.9% Field Goal Percentage. Both teams converted 63.6% of their free throws, while High Point converted more threes at 35.7%. Purdue won the rebound battle 45-24 and had 19 offensive rebounds. The Boilermakers for nine turnovers while only committing seven. Purdue also outscored High Point in the paint 38-22. High Point had the most total fouls at 20. High Point’s bench outscored Purdue’s 30-22.

Stat Leaders (PUR)

Trey Kaufman-Renn: 21 points, 10-16 FG, 1-5 FT, 8 Rebounds

Braden Smith: 20 points, 6-19 FG, 2-4 3ptrs, 6-8 FT, 6 assists

Camden Heide: 11 points, 4-6 FG, 2-4 3ptrs, 1-2 FT, 10 Rebounds

Stat Leaders (HPU)

D’Maurian Williams: 12 points, 5-9 FG, 2-3 3ptrs, 2-3 FT, 3 assists

Trey Benham: 11 Points, 3-7 FG, 3-6 3ptrs, 2-2 FT, 3 Rebounds

Full box score: Purdue 75-63 High Point (Mar 20, 2025) Box Score – ESPN

Purdue, at the time of this article, will await the winner of (5) Clemson and (12) McNeese in the second round.