Sweet 16 nets another big win for Purdue and big man Zach Edey, 80-68 over Gonzaga
DETROIT (AP) They leaned on him. They jawed at him. One time, they slapped him right across the forehead. None of it came close to stopping Purdue's big man, Zach Edey, and now he and the Boilermakers are one win away from the Final Four.
The 7-foot-4 Edey withstood all the abuse Gonzaga could lay on him Friday night, finishing with 27 points and 14 rebounds to lift Purdue to an 80-68 victory over the Bulldogs in a Midwest Region semifinal.
There were highlights galore in the No. 1-seeded Boilermakers' 32nd victory of the season, including a 14-point, 15-assist, eight-rebound masterpiece from guard Braden Smith.
No moment, though, told the story better than at the end of the first half when Edey had Gonzaga's Ben Gregg pinned underneath the basket. Gregg, in a desperation move to make a play, flailed at the ball and ended up roundhousing Edey full-on in the forehead with his open hand, picking up his third foul.
“It didn't feel good,” Edey said to a room full of laughs. “Obviously, he was just trying to make a play for the ball, just missed it and whack-a-moled my head a little bit.”
On Sunday, Purdue, which last year became history’s second first-round loser as a No. 1 seed, will play Tennessee, an 82-75 winner over Creighton later Friday. A win there would land the program in the Final Four for the first time since 1980.
Smith finished two assists shy of joining Joe Barry Carroll - who played on Purdue's last Final Four squad - as the program's second player to record a triple-double. Smith made two of Purdue's seven 3-pointers in the first half, all of which forced Gonzaga into a choice no team wants to make - take away the 3s or sag down on Edey, the nation’s leading scorer.
“It’s pick your poison,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “They shot it great from 3, and then in the second half, we shut down that area pretty good. Then, Edey was just a load.”
Once Edey got loose, foul trouble and an ever-shrinking basket ended the hopes for the fifth-seeded Zags.
Graham Ike had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who shot only 38% over the first 15 minutes of the second half and fell to 0-3 vs. Edey and the Boilermakers over the past two seasons.
As Purdue's lead mushroomed, the arena in Detroit sounded more like Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermakers, long seen as underachievers when the lights get bright in March, have a chance to play in April this time.
“We've had some experience in the tournament,” coach Matt Painter said. “We’ve had disappointment, and I think any time you have that, you appreciate things a little bit more, and your attention to detail is a little bit better.”
Like all Gonzaga big men, Ike spent the evening in foul trouble; he got his fifth and trudged off the court for good with 5:07 left. His second foul came halfway through the second half after he and Edey tussled in the paint, then jawed at each other after the ref’s whistle. That didn't throw Edey off his game, either.
“I think he did a good job tonight of doing that - just keep your mouth shut and carry a big stick,” Painter said.
Edey made one of two free throws there, but followed with a couple baby hooks as part of a 10-0 run that made this a 16-point game.
All par for the course for last season’s AP Player of the Year, who pretty much has a double-double when he rolls out of bed in the morning. He recorded his 27th of the season and 66th of his career at the 14:44 mark of the second half. The 10th rebound came on the offensive glass and was part of a five-shot trip down the court that Edey sealed with a jumper in the paint.
Edey finished the evening 10 for 15 from the floor and 7 for 10 from the line. He drew nine fouls, seven more than anyone else on his team. He didn’t have a block but made things difficult on Gonzaga from his low spot in Purdue’s zone - altering no fewer than a half-dozen shots in the second half.
With his 14 rebounds, Edey joined Elvin Hayes, Rick Barry and Oscar Robertson as the fourth player in NCAA history with at least two seasons of 750 points and 425 rebounds. Edey is trying to become the first player since Robertson in 1960 to lead the nation in scoring and reach the Final Four.
Few said the loss couldn't obscure Gonzaga's strong finish to the season. After fearing they might miss the tournament altogether, the Zags won 16 of their last 19.
“They doubled down, and they showed their real character and competed and then got even closer instead of pulling apart,” Few said.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Graham Ike vs. Zach Edey (Trey Kaufman-Renn gains possession) | |||
19:45 | Fletcher Loyer misses two point jump shot | |||
19:43 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
19:33 | Graham Ike misses two point jump shot | |||
19:31 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
19:15 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point hook shot (Lance Jones assists) | 0-2 | |
18:46 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot | 2-2 | |
18:24 | Zach Edey turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Nembhard steals) | |||
18:10 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 4-2 | |
17:47 | +3 | Braden Smith makes three point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists) | 4-5 | |
17:26 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 6-5 | |
17:03 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
17:03 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-6 | |
17:03 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-7 | |
16:50 | Fletcher Loyer personal foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul) | |||
16:44 | Ben Gregg offensive foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul) | |||
16:44 | Ben Gregg turnover (offensive foul) | |||
16:28 | Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point hook shot | |||
16:26 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
16:14 | +3 | Graham Ike makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 9-7 | |
15:57 | Trey Kaufman-Renn misses three point jump shot | |||
15:55 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
15:48 | +3 | Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot | 12-7 | |
15:33 | TV timeout | |||
15:20 | +3 | Lance Jones makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 12-10 | |
14:56 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
14:54 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
14:36 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot | 14-10 | |
14:17 | Zach Edey misses two point layup | |||
14:15 | Boilermakers offensive rebound | |||
14:05 | Zach Edey turnover (lost ball) (Dusty Stromer steals) | |||
13:55 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
13:53 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
13:39 | +3 | Mason Gillis makes three point jump shot (Zach Edey assists) | 14-13 | |
13:25 | Graham Ike misses two point jump shot | |||
13:23 | Dusty Stromer offensive rebound | |||
13:17 | Camden Heide shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
13:17 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-13 | |
13:17 | Anton Watson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
13:17 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
13:02 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists) | 17-13 | |
12:45 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point dunk (Braden Smith assists) | 17-15 | |
12:18 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot | 19-15 | |
12:18 | Camden Heide shooting foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
12:18 | +1 | Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 20-15 | |
12:05 | Lance Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
12:04 | Boilermakers offensive rebound | |||
12:04 | Braden Huff personal foul (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
11:55 | +2 | Lance Jones makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 20-17 | |
11:36 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
11:34 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
11:24 | Myles Colvin offensive rebound | |||
11:17 | Braden Smith turnover (bad pass) (Braden Huff steals) | |||
11:12 | Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Braden Smith steals) | |||
10:59 | Myles Colvin misses three point jump shot | |||
10:57 | Boilermakers offensive rebound | |||
10:57 | TV timeout | |||
10:43 | Ryan Nembhard personal foul (Mason Gillis draws the foul) | |||
10:37 | +3 | Mason Gillis makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 20-20 | |
10:17 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 22-20 | |
10:02 | +2 | Braden Smith makes two point layup | 22-22 | |
9:35 | +2 | Braden Huff makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists) | 24-22 | |
9:05 | Mason Gillis misses two point jump shot | |||
9:03 | Nolan Hickman defensive rebound | |||
8:56 | Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot | |||
8:54 | Braden Smith defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +3 | Lance Jones makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 24-25 | |
8:25 | Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup | |||
8:23 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
8:14 | +3 | Braden Smith makes three point jump shot | 24-28 | |
8:11 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
8:11 | TV timeout | |||
8:03 | Anton Watson offensive foul (Lance Jones draws the foul) | |||
8:03 | Anton Watson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:45 | Braden Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
7:43 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
7:18 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
7:18 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point dunk | 26-28 | |
6:56 | Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot | |||
6:54 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
6:42 | +3 | Anton Watson makes three point jump shot (Graham Ike assists) | 29-28 | |
6:19 | Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (traveling) | |||
6:19 | TV timeout | |||
5:48 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
5:46 | Braden Smith defensive rebound | |||
5:42 | +3 | Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 29-31 | |
5:28 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
5:26 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
5:02 | Braden Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
5:00 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 31-31 | |
4:18 | Anton Watson personal foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul) | |||
4:07 | Lance Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
4:05 | Zach Edey offensive rebound | |||
4:02 | Zach Edey misses two point layup | |||
4:00 | Nolan Hickman defensive rebound | |||
3:55 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot | 33-31 | |
3:26 | +2 | Lance Jones makes two point layup | 33-33 | |
3:09 | Lance Jones personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
3:09 | TV timeout | |||
2:50 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
2:48 | Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound | |||
2:18 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists) | 33-35 | |
1:52 | +3 | Graham Ike makes three point jump shot (Ben Gregg assists) | 36-35 | |
1:27 | Zach Edey turnover (traveling) | |||
1:13 | Graham Ike offensive foul (Lance Jones draws the foul) | |||
1:13 | Graham Ike turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:55 | +2 | Lance Jones makes two point jump shot (Mason Gillis assists) | 36-37 | |
0:41 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
0:39 | Dusty Stromer offensive rebound | |||
0:34 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
0:32 | Braden Smith defensive rebound | |||
0:09 | +2 | Zach Edey makes two point dunk (Braden Smith assists) | 36-39 | |
0:09 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Zach Edey draws the foul) | |||
0:09 | +1 | Zach Edey makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 36-40 | |
0:05 | Ethan Morton personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
0:03 | Ethan Morton personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | Graham Ike misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:50 | Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot | |||
19:48 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
19:31 | Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
19:11 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot | 39-40 | |
18:44 | +2 | Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists) | 39-42 | |
18:29 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
18:27 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
18:26 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point dunk | 41-42 | |
18:06 | +2 | Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 41-44 | |
17:50 | Graham Ike misses two point layup | |||
17:48 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
17:36 | +2 | Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point hook shot (Braden Smith assists) | 41-46 | |
17:12 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
17:10 | Zach Edey defensive rebound | |||
17:04 | Anton Watson personal foul (Trey Kaufman-Renn draws the foul) | |||
17:02 | +2 | Fletcher Loyer makes two point jump shot (Lance Jones assists) | 41-48 | |
16:49 | Trey Kaufman-Renn shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
16:49 | Anton Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
16:49 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-48 | |
16:33 | +3 | Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists) | 42-51 | |
16:24 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
16:24 | TV timeout |