UPDATE: In a stunning turn of events, No. 10 Iowa State delivered a historic blow to No. 1 Purdue, securing an emphatic 81-58 victory on Saturday in West Lafayette. This marks Purdue’s largest nonconference home loss in AP poll history, according to ESPN Research, and ties for the largest home loss ever for a top-ranked team.
Milan Momcilovic led the charge for the Cyclones with an impressive 20 points, as Iowa State nailed 11 three-pointers throughout the game. Killyan Toure and Joshua Jefferson also made significant contributions, each hitting three shots from beyond the arc. Toure finished with 13 points, while Blake Buchanan added 12 and Jefferson chipped in 11.
The Cyclones dominated the second half, shooting a staggering 59% and outscoring Purdue by 23 points, a feat underscoring their offensive prowess. Iowa State capitalized on a strong start after halftime, going on an 11-0 run that propelled them to a commanding 48-33 lead just 2:43 minutes into the half.
Purdue, struggling offensively, managed to shoot only 41% for the game and was an abysmal 4 of 18 from three-point range. Their performance was hampered by 15 turnovers, three more than Iowa State. The Boilermakers also struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 6 of 14 attempts.
Braden Smith was the only bright spot for Purdue, leading the team with 11 points, while Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen each added 10 points. Notably, Purdue’s top scorers, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn, faced significant challenges, combining for just 2 of 13 shooting in the first half. Kaufman-Renn did not score until just before halftime, missing his first six attempts.
This loss is particularly damaging for Purdue, snapping a remarkable streak of 36 consecutive non-conference home victories. The Boilermakers will aim to rebound when they host Minnesota on Wednesday night, while Iowa State prepares to face Iowa at home on Thursday in Ames.
Stay tuned for further updates as the basketball season unfolds, and share this historic upset with fellow fans!
