It's not easy winning at Mackey Arena, and no one knows that better than Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. He had lost seven games in a row at Purdue, but pulled out a huge 76-74 win on Thursday night against the Boilermakers. Braden Smith hit 1,000 career assists in the loss.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue point guard Braden Smith made history on Thursday, becoming just the fifth player to reach 1,000 assists.
That's nice and all, but he also missed a three-pointer in the final seconds and No. 8 Purdue lost to No. 13 Michigan State 76-74 at Mackey Arena. For legendary coach Tom Izzo, it was his first win at Purdue since 2014, and they snapped a seven-game streak to the Boilermakers.
Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. had 12 points and six assists and some big baskets late as the Spartans moved to 23-5 on the season, and 13-4 in the Big Ten. Purdue is 22-6 and 12-5.
"Everybody says 'you haven't won there very often,' but I've got news for you. Who the hell has?'' Izzo said, with absolute correctness. “It was a big win for us. Fears did a hell of a job. We played about as well as we could play.
“We put the ball in his hands and that’s what you’re supposed to do with your point guard. I was really proud of him. I really mean that. One of the better wins in my career because I know how hard it is to win here.”
Here's the game story from Spartans Roundtable writer.
Izzo and Painter have squared off 36 times in the past 20 years — fourth-most among NCAA coaching rivals. They're tied 18-18, which is why there is so much mutual respect between the two of them. Every game is a battle, and this one was no different.
It was a slugfest throughout, with 12 lead changes and time-leading separated by just 53 seconds. Purdue jumped out to a 9-2 start, but then neither team led by more than five points the rest of the way until Fears scored on a layup to put Michigan State ahead 72-64 on the back end of a 6-0 run.
Jack Benter and Smith hit threes for Purdue, and then Smith scored on a drive to make it 74-72 with 2:12 to go. Jaxon Kohler scored inside for MSU, but Benter quickly answered on the other to make it 76-74 with 1:34 left.
Neither team would score again.
Purdue had a chance to tie with eight seconds left, but Trey Kaufman-Renn's short jumper rolled off the rim. Cameron Ward rebounded for the Spartans, and was quickly fouled, but he missed the front end of the one-and-one and Purdue had one more shot.
Smith had a good look from the top of the key, but his 25-footer bounced off and the Spartans had a big road win.
Purdue lost at home for the fourth time this season, to Iowa State, Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State, four teams who've been in the top-10 at some point this season.
"It's not easy to win at home, but it's easier,'' Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "You've got to be able to take advantage of playing at home and we just haven't done that. It hasn't been because of a lack of effort. We got beat by a good basketball team today that's well coached.
"I just thought they were better than us.''
Smith's 12 points led Purdue, with Benter adding 11. Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff had 10 each. Smith's milestone was something. He's got 1,004 career assists now, fifth all-time.
"He's a fabulous player," Painter said of Smith. "Everything he gets, he deserves. He's sacrificed a lot. It's just an honor to coach him. He's done a lot for Purdue University."
Bobby Hurley of Duke (1990-93) holds the Division-I record with 1,076 assists. The Boilermakers have three games left before the Big Ten tournament, with road games at Ohio State on Sunday and at Northwestern on Thursday, before closing out the regular season on March 7 (Saturday) against Wisconsin.
With Thursday's loss, the Boilermakers fell into fifth place in the Big Ten, which may not necessarily be a bad thing. The top four teams get triple-byes into Friday's quarterfinals, but being the No. 5 seeds means Purdue would have to play a Thursday game before the potential 4-5 meeting on Friday.
One extra game for Smith might give him another shot at 8-10 more assists in his chase of Hurley. It might even make the difference, depending on how many postseason games they can win.
NCAA all-time assists leaders
Here is the list of the top-20 all-time assist leaders in NCAA history, as of Thursday, Jan. 15:
1,076 — Bobby Hurley, Duke (1989-93)
1,038 — Chris Corchiani, N.C. State (1987-91)
1,030 — Ed Cota, North Carolina (1996-2000)
1,009 — Jason Brickman, LIU-Brooklyn (2010-14)
1,004 — Braden Smith, Purdue (2022-present)
983 — Keith Jennings, East Tennessee State (1987-91)
972 — Steve Blake, Maryland (1999-2003)
960 — Sherman Douglas, Syracuse (1985-89)
956 — Tony Miller, Marquette (1991-95)
954 — Aaron Miles, Kansas (2001-05)
950 — Greg Anthony, Portland/UNLV (1987-91)
947 — Doug Gottlieb, Notre Dame/Oklahoma State (1995-2000)
939 — Gary Payton, Oregon State (1986-90)
934 — D.J. Cooper, Ohio University (2009-13)
902 — Cameron Langley, North Carolina A&T (2017-22)
902 — Orlando Smart, San Francisco (1990-94)
894 — Andre LaFleur, Northeastern (1983-87)
893 — Chico Fletcher, Arkansas State (1996-2000)
890 — Cassius Winston, Michigan State (2016-20)
884 — Jim Les, Cleveland State/Bradley (1982-86)