Bench production powers top-ranked Purdue basketball past Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Top-ranked Purdue parlayed a 15-0 first-half run and strong bench production to earn a significant road win Thursday night.

The Boilermakers built a 13-point lead in the first half and withstood a late rally by the Wolverines to post a 75-70 victory at the Crisler Center.

Zach Edey was nearly unstoppable down low but the production from Mason Gillis, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Brandon Newman and David Jenkins Jr., carried Purdue to its seventh-straight victory. The group scored 21 points and totaled 14rebounds.

Jenkins and Kaufman-Renn each totaled eight points off the bench and Gills cleaned up defensive plays with rebounds and played with a lot of toughness.

“We had to come in there and make sure there’s no drop-off from the starters,” Kaufman-Renn said. “That’s our goal – give the guys a break and build the lead.”

Edey finished with 19 points and Fletcher Loyer added 17, including nine in the second half.

Hunter Dickinson had 21 points to lead the Wolverines, who played without Jett Howard (ankle). Kobe Bufkin scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half for Michigan, which pulled within five points twice after halftime.

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KAUFMAN-RENN STANDS OUT

When Kaufman-Renn scored with under 13 minutes left in the first half, it set the stage for the redshirt freshman to break out of his shooting slump.

He followed with another basket and Kaufman-Renn was on his way to a solid performance. He was 4-for-4 from the field in nine minutes, giving the Boilermakers production with Edey on the bench.

Since conference play resumed, Kaufman-Renn had missed 13 of 15 field goal attempts.

“I’ve been in a rut there for a little bit,” Kaufman-Renn said. “It was one of those things of playing for the first time in the Big Ten and just going through it as a freshman. Coaches have done a great job of having confidence in me and setting me up for the opportunity.”

Kaufman-Renn doesn’t play extended minutes since the graduate of Silver Creek is backing up the leading candidate for national player of the year. But his production is key for Purdue in the second half of the Big Ten season.

“You’re asking for production in short minutes,” coach Matt Painter said. “I don’t think that’s fair. I think it’s good for more or less his sanity because he’s a good player and he happens to play behind someone who’s having a fabulous year.”

And when the Wolverines made a push late in the second half, Kaufman-Renn deliver back-to-back baskets to stretch the lead to 65-56 with 6:28 on the clock.

“What Trey did today wasn’t unexpected for any of us that’s been around practice all summer,” Edey said. “He’s great at creating his own shot in the low post. He’s gotten in some foul trouble and hasn’t gotten in his rhythm. He’s really hard to guard in the low post.”

MORE BENCH PLAY

It wasn’t just Kaufman-Renn.

Jenkins kept the Boilermakers moving forward when Braden Smith picked up two early fouls, playing 14 minutes in the first half.

Newman drained two big free throws with 5.5 seconds to play after Michigan had cut the advantage to 73-70 with a desperation 3-pointer. Newman also added six defensive rebounds.

And Gillis did Gills things we’re used to seeing. Tracking down loose balls for rebounds. Blocking a 3-pointer in the second half. Forcing a jump ball situation, using his strength to keep the possession with the Boilermakers.

“Just staying ready to go,” Jenkins said. “Some games, you’ll play a lot and some games you don’t play as much. It’s all about staying ready. All of our guys did that.”

Gillis finished with the best plus/minus (+13) on the team because of his hustle plays and the intangibles he brought to Thursday’s game. He started the second half in place of Caleb Furst because of the potential matchups.

“He did a lot of little things for us,” Painter said.

ROAD TESTED

Purdue continues to shine on opponents’ home courts.

The Boilermakers are now 6-0 in true road games. They have wins at Florida State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan State.

“We have a lot of guys who like playing on the road,” Edey said. “We have a lot of guys that don’t like being comfortable. We’ve embraced that. When the crowd starts chanting, a lot of guys like that. I think it motivates our team.”

Add the neutral court victories in Portland, Ore., over Thanksgiving along with the win against Penn State in Philadelphia, Purdue has shown its toughness away from Mackey Arena.

“We’re so close as a team,” Jenkins said. “Off the court and it translates on the court. We stay composed and it’s weird because we have a bunch of young dudes.

“It’s amazing the see how composed they can be. They never played college basketball before this year. I know a lot of guys that played a long time and can’t handle situations like that.”