Can the Boilermakers' Home Court Advantage Seal Victory at Mackey Arena?

The Purdue Boilermakers, ranked number 1, continued their dominant season with a hard-fought victory over the ninth-ranked Fighting Illini. The final scoreboard at Mackey Arena read 83-78 in favor of the home team. The Boilermakers now boast an impressive record, while the Fighting Illini's record took a hit with this recent loss.

The game was a showcase of offensive talent and resilience from both teams. The Boilermakers managed to outscore their opponents by five points in paint, both teams tallying 34 each in that category. Purdue's field goal percentage stood slightly higher at 45 percent compared to Illinois' 43 percent. Both teams were nearly neck-and-neck in three-point shooting percentages as well, with Purdue hitting an impressive 47 percent from beyond the arc.

Purdue's defense was also noteworthy; they blocked one more shot than Illinois and matched them with five steals each. In terms of rebounds, the Boilermakers dominated by securing a total of 43 rebounds - including an outstanding number of offensive boards at 16 - which is significantly higher than Illinois' total rebound count of 28.

Free throws were another area where Purdue excelled; they made good on 80 percent of their attempts from the charity stripe. This solid free-throw shooting contributed crucial points to their overall score and helped maintain their lead throughout the game.

The assists turnover ratio for both teams ended up equal at 1.5; however, it was Purdue’s ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities that made a difference – scoring three more second-chance points than Illinois.

Looking ahead for the Purdue Boilermakers, they will be visiting Pinnacle Bank Arena to face off against Nebraska Cornhuskers on January 9th at approximately eight o'clock PM Eastern Time Zone (7:00 PM Central). Fans eager to follow this matchup can tune into Peacock for live coverage as PUR aims to continue its winning streak on Nebraska's home court.