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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Daniel Jacobsen poured in 20 points and Purdue cruised past Illinois State 76-59 on Monday night, securing the Boilermakers' first victory of the 2025-26 campaign.
Purdue (1-2) had dropped its season opener to then-No. 15 Gonzaga, 78-72, in Las Vegas, and then suffered an 83-80 double-overtime heartbreaker at home to Valparaiso on a buzzer-beater.
Against the Redbirds, the Boilermakers led wire-to-wire, connecting on 56.5% of their field-goal attempts and 8 of 19 from 3-point range. That marked a significant improvement for a team that had made just 10 of 49 from beyond the arc in its first two games.
Antione West Jr. contributed 17 points for Purdue, while Jack Benter added 14 and C.J. Cox chipped in 10.
Illinois State was paced by Johnny Kinziger and Noah Cleveland, who each scored 12 points. Malik Messina-Moore finished with 11 points, and Demarion Burch had 10.
West's 3-pointer at the end of the first half gave the Boilermakers a 36-28 lead at the break. Jacobsen had 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Cleveland's two free throws trimmed the Cardinals' deficit to 50-48 with 8:55 remaining, but Purdue responded with a decisive 17-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Key Analysis
The Boilermakers' offensive efficiency was a welcome sight after a sluggish start to the season. Purdue's 3-point shooting had been a glaring weakness, but the team found its rhythm against Illinois State. The 17-0 run showcased the Boilermakers' ability to pull away when challenged, a trait that will be crucial in Big Ten play. With the first win secured, Purdue can now focus on building momentum as the schedule progresses.
Originally reported by headtopics.