WEST LAFAYETTE − CJ Cox and fellow freshman guard Gicarri Harris had never seen a Purdue basketball game from inside Mackey Arena.
Their first resulted in an easy 99-41 exhibition victory over Division II Grand Valley State.
It came with an announced sellout crowd backing the Boilermakers‘ newest backcourt duo, who helped highlight a one-sided first half.
Cox scored nine points on 4 of 5 shooting in the opening half. He and Harris also frustrated Lakers ball handlers on the perimeter with their defensive tenacity. Each scored in double figures and combined for 25 points (Cox 15, Harris 10).
Purdue basketball turning point
Jalen Charity’s 3 on Grand Valley State’s first offensive possession gave the Lakers an early 3-2 lead.
Purdue then went on a 15-0 run over the next four minutes, boosted by eight points and three rebounds from Trey Kaufman-Renn.
Grand Valley State missed nine straight shots and had two turnovers early, allowing Matt Painter to mix and match lineups.
Purdue picks up the defense
Granted, Creighton is on another level than Grand Valley State.
Still, Purdue needed to see its most improvement on the defensive end of the floor and from the first exhibition game to the second, it’s apparent that happened.
It wasn’t flawless. Defense never is.
The Lakers were just 8 of 24 from the floor in the opening half, one of those makes being a prayer 3 that banked in. Grand Valley State had trouble getting clean looks almost all night. The Lakers finished shooting 21.3%.
3 stars
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue: That decision to redshirt during the 2021-22 season seems more brilliant every day. Early during Kaufman-Renn’s redshirt freshman season, Painter said Kaufman-Renn had the ability to end up an all-Big Ten player. Through two exhibition games, it looks like that time could be now. He had 15 points and 10 rebounds. If it counted, it would’ve been his first collegiate triple-double.
Fletcher Loyer, Purdue: The junior guard just finds ways to score. He’s been able to have big outings throughout his first two seasons. Now as a veteran and leader of the Boilermakers, can he do it consistently? Loyer scored 15 and averaged 16 in two exhibition games.
Braden Smith, Purdue: Smith wasn’t going to equal his 31-point outing from Saturday at Creighton. There was no reason for him two. But Purdue’s alpha dog filled up the stat sheet yet again with seven points, five rebounds and five assists.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
