Alabama Crimson Tide at Purdue Boilermakers

Trey Kaufman-Renn scores 26 points to lead No. 13 Purdue past No. 2 Alabama 87-78

The Boilermakers (4-0) have won 21 consecutive home games and 25 straight in November. They have not lost a regular-season nonconference game since December 2020.

Braden Smith had 17 points and 10 assists as he moved into third place on Purdue's career assists list with 483. Fletcher Loyer also scored 17.

Alabama (3-1) was led by freshman Labaron Philon, who had a season-high 18 points off the bench before fouling out with 2:02 to play. Grant Nelson added 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Mark Sears scored 15 in a matchup between two of last season's Final Four teams.

Takeaways Alabama: Coach Nate Oats rolled the dice playing such an early road game against a team so traditionally strong at home, especially in November. But the Crimson Tide learned lessons that will help them in the long run.

Purdue: The Boilermakers might have turned the corner. After three straight rocky performances, coach Matt Painter’s squad delivered its best game yet. If Purdue continues playing this way, it could be the Big Ten contender everyone expects.

Key moment After Alabama took its largest lead at 65-59, Kaufman-Renn answered with a basket and Cox made three straight 3-pointers to fuel a 13-0 run that gave the Boilermakers a 72-65 advantage with 8:17 to play. They never trailed again.

Key stats Purdue committed just three turnovers and beat the highest-ranked nonconference opponent in Mackey Arena history. The only other time it played a non-Big Ten team ranked in the top two came in the arena’s first game — a 73-71 loss to No. 1 UCLA in December 1967.

Up next Alabama faces another Big Ten foe, Illinois, on Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

Purdue visits No. 15 Marquette on Tuesday.

How can I watch Alabama vs. Purdue?

• TV Channel: Alabama at Purdue 2021 College Basketball, week 2, is broadcasted on Peacock.
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