Purdue basketball exacts revenge against Auburn, delivering blowout of its own

INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue men’s basketball headed into the holiday break with a top-25 rout.

The No. 6 Boilermakers whipped No. 24 Auburn 88-60 in the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the Boilers' win means.

What I liked in Purdue basketball's win over Auburn

Purdue came in well aware of Auburn’s offensive rebounding acumen. It didn’t stop the Tigers from grabbing seven in the first half.

What prevented Saturday from turning into last year’s loss to Texas A&M in the same event, though, was Purdue’s ability to limit the damage. The Tigers turned those seven second chances into two made free throws before the break.

Meanwhile, the Boilers thrived on second chances. Trey Kaufman-Renn continued to set the tone there. Two of C.J. Cox’s four 3-pointers in the first half came after offensive rebounds. Second chances accounted for 10 of the team’s first 37 points.

Auburn managed only two offensive rebounds in the second half as Purdue pushed its lead as many as 29.

∙ Braden Smith had become a defensive catalyst in the wake of the Iowa State loss. Tahaad Pettiford, however, provided a more dynamic challenge. Smith contributed to the Auburn guard’s 1-for-4 field goal, one assist performance in the first 20 minutes.

Pettiford finished with five points on 2 of 7 shooting and that single assist. Smith augmented his 14 assists with three steals and a block.

∙ When Jack Benter first subbed in for Kaufman-Renn in the first half, he hit a 3. When he subbed in for him early in the second half, he took a charge. Extending the energy level with which Kaufman-Renn plays right now is a tall task, but perhaps it’s also an inspiring one.

∙ Things were already going Purdue’s way when Gicarri Harris heated up, but those four second-half 3s had to feel good for a guy who was 1 for 9 since his Rutgers outburst. He received a big ovation when he subbed out in the second half. Cox, who replaced him, hit four in the first half.

What I disliked in Purdue basketball's win over Auburn

Purdue probably needed to get the ball inside to Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff even more in the first half. That’s a nit-pick because the half-court offense was still pretty efficient throughout.

∙ Too bad that Pettiford could not complete the game. Purdue was fully in control when he turned his ankle with about 11 minutes remaining. Win or lose, though, this game’s greatest value came in the tougher matchups the Boilers had to face.

Insider: Purdue basketball 'demoralizes' opponents, helping them become top offense

What Purdue basketball's win over Auburn means

This was the first likely NCAA tournament team Purdue had played since the Iowa State debacle. Winning in an emphatic style, as Auburn did against the Boilers last season, helps send this team into the holiday break with more momentum.

And of course, there are the NCAA tournament seeding benefits of beating top 35 NET teams away from Mackey Arena.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball score today vs Auburn, game stats, Braden Smith stars