WEST LAFAYETTE — Omer Mayer got his first extended opportunity to run Purdue basketball’s offense with the first unit.
When senior point guard Braden Smith picked up three fouls in 12 minutes, Boilermaker coach Matt Painter opted to let the freshman run the show.
Turns out, the freshman is quite capable.
Mayer finished with eight points in 15 minutes and helped No. 5 Purdue continue its run of victories to six straight, beating Washington 81-73 on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Mackey Arena.
Purdue (14-1) moved to 4-0 in the Big Ten despite seeing a 23-point lead dwindle to single digits late.
Purdue basketball turning point vs Washington
Smith was saddled with foul trouble in the first half. Even with the Boilermakers opening the game on a 9-0 run, Washington quickly clawed right back.
Purdue relies on strength in numbers and without its best player on the floor, the Boilermakers outscored Washington 21-12 in the first half and led 45-28 at the break, shooting 67.9% in the process. The half, when Purdue’s defense forced 10 Washington turnovers, concluded with Mayer hitting a contested buzzer-beating jumper.
How many assists did Braden Smith have vs Washington?
Braden Smith had seven assists versus Washington.
Smith became the 17th player in NCAA Division I history to record 900 career assists, hitting the milestone number on the nose.
3 Purdue basketball stars vs Washington
Trey Kaufman-Renn: The redshirt senior continues to not only be an offensive threat, but he’s become a force on the boards. Kaufman-Renn recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 14 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Braden Smith: Even with the foul trouble, it was Smith, the Big Ten assist king, who sparked the early surge with his shooting ability. In addition to his seven assists, Smith had 23 points and three steals.
Daniel Jacobsen: Sometimes there is no match for a 7-foot-4 guy. Jacobsen went 5 for 6 from the floor, scoring 10 points and blocking two shots. Jacobsen baited Franck Kepnang, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes, into a fifth foul with 9:14 to go.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Freshman fills void for Purdue basketball’s Braden Smith in win
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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