WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — Purdue controlled play from the start and defeated Marquette 79-59 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers built a 37-21 halftime lead behind strong interior play and never looked back. Oscar Cluff led Purdue with 22 points on efficient shooting, while Fletcher Loyer added 15. Royce Parham scored 19 for the Golden Eagles. Purdue shot 53.6% from the field and outrebounded Marquette. The Golden Eagles struggled offensively, shooting just 32.8%. Purdue improved to 10-1, while Marquette fell to 5-6. An announced crowd of 14,876 attended.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — Oscar Cluff dominated the interior with 22 points and Purdue methodically pulled away from Marquette for a 79-59 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers, improving to 10-1, used a decisive 16-2 run spanning the end of the first half and the start of the second to build a commanding lead the Golden Eagles (5-6) never threatened. The game’s most important stretch began with Purdue leading 28-25 late in the first half. Over the next six minutes of game time, the Boilermakers outscored Marquette 16-2, turning a tight contest into a 44-27 advantage. The surge was fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense, with Cluff scoring six points during the run and Fletcher Loyer capping it with a 3-pointer. Cluff, the 6-foot-11 junior from Australia, was the game’s most impactful player, making 9 of his 11 field goal attempts and adding two blocks and two steals in just 23 minutes. His ability to finish around the rim and protect the paint underscored a afternoon where Purdue outscored Marquette 36-22 in the paint and outshot them 53.6% to 32.8% from the field. “We just couldn’t get stops, and we couldn’t score consistently enough to keep pace,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “Their size and physicality, particularly with Cluff, presented problems we didn’t solve.” Purdue led 37-21 at halftime, holding Marquette to a season-low for first-half points. The Golden Eagles showed more life after the break, scoring 38 second-half points, but never cut the deficit below 14 points. Every time Marquette made a small push, Purdue answered, often through Cluff or Loyer, who finished with 15 points. Braden Smith orchestrated the Purdue offense with 10 assists and seven points, while Trey Kaufman-Renn added 10 points. For Marquette, Royce Parham led all scorers with 19 points and Chase Ross added 10, but the Golden Eagles’ offense never found a rhythm, hampered by 31.3% 3-point shooting and 12 turnovers that led to 15 Purdue points. The Boilermakers’ offensive rating of 117.7 on 67 possessions starkly contrasted with Marquette’s 87.9, highlighting the efficiency gap. Purdue also won the rebounding battle 38-33, including 10 offensive boards. The victory extends Purdue’s strong start to the season, with its only loss coming to Iowa State. Marquette, struggling against a tough early schedule, has now lost four of its last five games, with all defeats coming by double digits. A crowd of 14,876 watched the game, which fell well under the pregame over/under of 151.5. Purdue was a 17.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, a spread they covered with ease. Purdue next faces Auburn in a neutral-site game in Indianapolis on Dec. 20. Marquette returns home to open Big East play against Georgetown on Dec. 17.

Preview: Marquette Golden Eagles at No. [Presumed Ranking] Purdue Boilermakers WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — The surging Purdue Boilermakers host the struggling Marquette Golden Eagles in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Mackey Arena. Purdue (9-1) has rebounded emphatically from its lone loss, a 58-81 defeat to Iowa State on Dec. 6, with dominant wins over Rutgers and, most recently, an 85-57 rout of Minnesota on Wednesday. The Boilermakers’ offense, orchestrated by point guard Braden Smith, has been potent, scoring 80 or more points in eight of their 10 games. Smith is the engine, averaging a near double-double in his last five contests. He is coming off a 15-point, 12-assist performance against the Gophers and has tallied double-digit assists in four games this season. His matchup with Marquette’s backcourt will be pivotal. Marquette (5-5) seeks stability after a 76-96 loss at Wisconsin on Dec. 6. The Golden Eagles have alternated wins and losses over their past six games, with three of their five defeats coming by five points or fewer, including an overtime loss to Dayton. Guard Nigel James has been a bright spot, scoring 20 or more points in three of the last five games. He led Marquette with 21 points in a 75-72 overtime win over Valparaiso on Dec. 2. His ability to score and facilitate will be crucial against Purdue’s stout defense. The Boilermakers have been formidable at home, winning by an average margin of 30.2 points in five games at Mackey Arena this season. Marquette, meanwhile, is 1-2 in true road games. This contest serves as a final tune-up before both teams enter extended conference play. Purdue begins a tough Big Ten slate in January, while Marquette opens its Big East schedule on Dec. 17. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. EST tip-off on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.