PURDUE

WISC

Braden Smith sets Big Ten's career assists record as No. 5 Purdue defeats Wisconsin 89-73

AP
Jan 03, 2026

MADISON, Wis. (AP) Braden Smith became the Big Ten’s career assists leader, Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points and No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers defeated Wisconsin Badgers 89-73 on Saturday night.

Smith had 12 assists to increase his career total to 893 and break the record formerly held by Cassius Winston, who compiled 890 career assists with Michigan State from 2017-20.

Smith is averaging 9.6 assists per game and entered Saturday leading all Division I players in that category. The large contingent of Purdue fans at the Kohl Center chanted “Braden Smith!” and gave him a standing ovation after he broke Winston’s record.

The 6-foot senior also had 14 points as Purdue (13-1, 3-0 Big Ten) continued its hot streak.

Since losing 81-58 to No. 3 Iowa State on Dec. 8 - a defeat that dropped Purdue out of the No. 1 ranking - the Boilermakers have won each of their last five games by an average margin of 26.6 points.

C.J. Cox had 14 points, Oscar Cluff 12 and Trey Kaufman-Renn 11 for Purdue. Cluff also had 11 rebounds.

Nick Boyd scored 24 points for Wisconsin (9-5, 1-2), while Nolan Winter added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Purdue led by as many as 25 points with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. Wisconsin clawed back and cut Purdue's lead to 84-73 with 3:22 left, but Loyer responded with a 3-pointer to thwart any comeback hopes.

Wisconsin lost at home for the first time this season.

The Badgers took the early lead by continually driving to the basket and making nine of their first 12 shots, but Purdue pulled ahead for good on an Omer Mayer 3-pointer with 7:25 left in the first half.

Purdue: Hosts Washington on Wednesday.

Wisconsin: Hosts UCLA on Tuesday.

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1st Half
PUR
Boilermakers
45
WISC
Badgers
38

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Oscar Cluff vs. Nolan Winter (Nick Boyd gains possession)
19:35	+2	John Blackwell makes two point jump shot	0-2
19:11		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
19:09		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
19:06		Nick Boyd misses two point layup
19:04		Nolan Winter offensive rebound
19:04	+2	Nolan Winter makes two point layup	0-4
19:04		Braden Smith shooting foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
19:04	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 1 of 1	0-5
18:48		C.J. Cox misses two point jump shot
18:46		C.J. Cox offensive rebound
18:37		Braden Smith misses three point jump shot
18:35		Braden Smith offensive rebound
18:32	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	2-5
18:20	+2	John Blackwell makes two point layup	2-7
18:03		Aleksas Bieliauskas personal foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
17:58		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
17:56		Aleksas Bieliauskas defensive rebound
17:49	+2	John Blackwell makes two point layup	2-9
17:49	+2	Fletcher Loyer makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	4-9
17:16		Aleksas Bieliauskas turnover (lost ball) (C.J. Cox steals)
17:11		Nolan Winter blocks C.J. Cox's two point layup
17:09		Fletcher Loyer offensive rebound
17:00	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists)	7-9
16:42		Aleksas Bieliauskas misses three point jump shot
16:40		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
16:29	+3	Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)	10-9
16:07	+2	Aleksas Bieliauskas makes two point jump shot (Andrew Rohde assists)	10-11
15:44		TV timeout
15:40		Gicarri Harris misses three point jump shot
15:38		Jack Janicki defensive rebound
15:23	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point layup	10-13
15:02		Jack Janicki shooting foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul)
15:02	+1	Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 1 of 3	11-13
15:02	+1	Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 2 of 3	12-13
15:02		Fletcher Loyer misses regular free throw 3 of 3
15:02		Jack Janicki defensive rebound
14:50		Daniel Jacobsen shooting foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
14:50	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-14
14:50	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-15
14:33	+2	Daniel Jacobsen makes two point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists)	14-15
14:22	+3	Austin Rapp makes three point jump shot (Jack Janicki assists)	14-18
13:59	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	16-18
13:38		Austin Rapp misses three point jump shot
13:36		Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound
13:24		Daniel Jacobsen misses two point layup
13:22		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
13:14	+2	Nolan Winter makes two point layup	16-20
12:51	+2	Daniel Jacobsen makes two point hook shot (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)	18-20
12:28	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point layup	18-22
12:14		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point jump shot
12:12		Boilermakers offensive rebound
11:59		Gicarri Harris misses two point jump shot
11:57		Andrew Rohde defensive rebound
11:39		Zach Kinziger misses two point jump shot
11:37		Badgers offensive rebound
11:37		TV timeout
11:23		John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
11:21		Boilermakers defensive rebound
11:10	+3	Gicarri Harris makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	21-22
10:50	+2	Andrew Rohde makes two point jump shot	21-24
10:27		Omer Mayer misses three point jump shot
10:23		Boilermakers offensive rebound
10:23		Andrew Rohde personal foul (Gicarri Harris draws the foul)
10:20		Omer Mayer turnover (bad pass) (Andrew Rohde steals)
10:04		Oscar Cluff personal foul (Andrew Rohde draws the foul)
10:04		Will Garlock turnover (bad pass)
9:40		Oscar Cluff misses two point hook shot
9:38		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
9:33		Nolan Winter turnover (bad pass) (Omer Mayer steals)
9:33		John Blackwell personal foul (Omer Mayer draws the foul)
9:15	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point hook shot	23-24
9:03		Nick Boyd turnover (bad pass) (Oscar Cluff steals)
8:54		John Blackwell shooting foul (Fletcher Loyer draws the foul)
8:54	+1	Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-24
8:54	+1	Fletcher Loyer makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-24
8:30		Nolan Winter misses two point layup
8:28		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
8:23		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
8:21		Andrew Rohde defensive rebound
8:09	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point jump shot	25-26
7:40		Fletcher Loyer misses two point layup
7:38		C.J. Cox offensive rebound
7:25	+3	Omer Mayer makes three point jump shot (Fletcher Loyer assists)	28-26
7:16		Andrew Rohde misses three point jump shot
7:14		Badgers offensive rebound
7:13		TV timeout
7:11		Nolan Winter turnover (lost ball) (Braden Smith steals)
6:58	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point jump shot	30-26
6:39		Andrew Rohde misses three point jump shot
6:37		Badgers offensive rebound
6:34	+3	Braeden Carrington makes three point jump shot (Nolan Winter assists)	30-29
6:05		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point jump shot
6:03		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
5:59		Austin Rapp misses three point jump shot
5:57		Daniel Jacobsen defensive rebound
5:47	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	32-29
5:28		Austin Rapp turnover (bad pass) (C.J. Cox steals)
5:23		Braden Smith misses three point jump shot
5:21		Austin Rapp defensive rebound
4:57		Braeden Carrington misses three point jump shot
4:55		Boilermakers defensive rebound
4:55		Will Garlock personal foul (Daniel Jacobsen draws the foul)
4:38		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
4:36		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
4:27		Trey Kaufman-Renn personal foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
4:22		Andrew Rohde turnover (lost ball) (Gicarri Harris steals)
4:17	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point dunk (Braden Smith assists)	34-29
4:02	+3	Braeden Carrington makes three point jump shot (Will Garlock assists)	34-32
3:40		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
3:38		Braden Smith offensive rebound
3:38		Will Garlock shooting foul (Daniel Jacobsen draws the foul)
3:38		TV timeout
3:38	+1	Daniel Jacobsen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-32
3:38		Daniel Jacobsen misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:38		Jack Janicki defensive rebound
3:15		Aleksas Bieliauskas misses three point jump shot
3:13		Braden Smith defensive rebound
2:56		Gicarri Harris misses three point jump shot
2:54		Braeden Carrington defensive rebound
2:46		Daniel Jacobsen shooting foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
2:46		Nolan Winter misses regular free throw 1 of 3
2:46		Nolan Winter misses regular free throw 2 of 3
2:46	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 3 of 3	35-33
2:33	+2	Daniel Jacobsen makes two point dunk (Trey Kaufman-Renn assists)	37-33
2:31		Boilermakers 30 second timeout
2:23		Gicarri Harris personal foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
2:10		Braeden Carrington misses three point jump shot
2:08		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
2:01		Fletcher Loyer misses two point layup
1:59		Jack Janicki defensive rebound
1:55		Gicarri Harris shooting foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
1:55		Nolan Winter misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:55	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-34
1:37	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	39-34
1:22	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point layup	39-36
1:08	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	41-36
1:08		Jack Janicki shooting foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
1:08		Oscar Cluff misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:08		Braeden Carrington defensive rebound
0:58		Braeden Carrington turnover (traveling)
0:44	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point dunk (Braden Smith assists)	43-36
0:37		Badgers 30 second timeout
0:25		Nick Boyd misses two point layup
0:23		Austin Rapp offensive rebound
0:21	+2	Austin Rapp makes two point layup	43-38
0:03	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	45-38
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
PUR
Boilermakers
44
WISC
Badgers
35

Time		Play	Score
19:45		Trey Kaufman-Renn turnover (lost ball) (Nick Boyd steals)
19:41		Braden Smith shooting foul (Andrew Rohde draws the foul)
19:41		Andrew Rohde misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:41	+1	Andrew Rohde makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-39
19:27		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
19:25		John Blackwell defensive rebound
19:08	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point jump shot	45-41
18:47	+2	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes two point hook shot	47-41
18:30		Aleksas Bieliauskas turnover (traveling)
18:14		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point layup
18:12		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
18:07	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot (Oscar Cluff assists)	50-41
17:55		Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot
17:53		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
17:46		Aleksas Bieliauskas shooting foul (Trey Kaufman-Renn draws the foul)
17:46	+1	Trey Kaufman-Renn makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-41
17:46		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:46		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
17:44		Oscar Cluff misses two point layup
17:42		Trey Kaufman-Renn offensive rebound
17:36		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point layup
17:35		Trey Kaufman-Renn offensive rebound
17:35		Boilermakers 30 second timeout
17:28		TV timeout
17:28		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point layup
17:26		John Blackwell defensive rebound
17:10		Fletcher Loyer shooting foul (John Blackwell draws the foul)
17:10	+1	John Blackwell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-42
17:10		John Blackwell misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:10		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
16:43	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	53-42
16:38		Braden Smith shooting foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
16:38	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-43
16:38	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-44
16:20		Nolan Winter personal foul (Trey Kaufman-Renn draws the foul)
16:18	+3	Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	56-44
16:03		John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
16:01		C.J. Cox defensive rebound
15:55		Austin Rapp shooting foul (C.J. Cox draws the foul)
15:55		TV timeout
15:55	+1	C.J. Cox makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-44
15:55	+1	C.J. Cox makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-44
15:33		Daniel Jacobsen blocks John Blackwell's two point layup
15:31		Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound
15:16	+3	C.J. Cox makes three point jump shot	61-44
14:55		Fletcher Loyer personal foul (Will Garlock draws the foul)
14:38		Daniel Jacobsen blocks John Blackwell's two point layup
14:36		Daniel Jacobsen defensive rebound
14:29		Nolan Winter personal foul (Trey Kaufman-Renn draws the foul)
14:26	+2	Fletcher Loyer makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	63-44
14:23		Badgers 30 second timeout
14:03	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point jump shot	63-46
13:42	+3	Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (C.J. Cox assists)	66-46
13:30		Daniel Jacobsen shooting foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
13:30	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-47
13:30	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-48
13:17		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
13:15		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
13:09		Trey Kaufman-Renn blocks Nick Boyd's two point layup
13:07		Daniel Jacobsen defensive rebound
13:00	+3	Gicarri Harris makes three point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	69-48
12:58		Will Garlock shooting foul (Gicarri Harris draws the foul)
12:58		Gicarri Harris misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:58		Aleksas Bieliauskas defensive rebound
12:47		Aleksas Bieliauskas misses two point layup
12:45		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
12:33	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (Gicarri Harris assists)	71-48
12:33		Aleksas Bieliauskas shooting foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
12:33	+1	Oscar Cluff makes regular free throw 1 of 1	72-48
12:20		Zach Kinziger misses three point jump shot
12:18		Andrew Rohde offensive rebound
12:10		John Blackwell turnover (lost ball) (Omer Mayer steals)
11:50		Gicarri Harris misses two point jump shot
11:48		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
11:40		John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
11:38		Braden Smith defensive rebound
11:22		TV timeout
11:20		Gicarri Harris misses three point jump shot
11:18		Austin Rapp defensive rebound
10:56		Austin Rapp misses two point jump shot
10:54		Omer Mayer defensive rebound
10:52		Jump ball. Omer Mayer vs. Zach Kinziger (Zach Kinziger gains possession)
10:52		Omer Mayer turnover (lost ball) (Zach Kinziger steals)
10:51		Gicarri Harris personal foul (John Blackwell draws the foul)
10:37		Andrew Rohde misses three point jump shot
10:35		Nick Boyd offensive rebound
10:35		Oscar Cluff personal foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
10:35	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-49
10:35	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-50
10:23		Braden Smith misses two point jump shot
10:21		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
10:16		John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
10:14		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
9:58	+2	Jack Benter makes two point jump shot	74-50
9:44	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point layup	74-52
9:22	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point layup (Braden Smith assists)	76-52
9:22		Austin Rapp shooting foul (Oscar Cluff draws the foul)
9:22	+1	Oscar Cluff makes regular free throw 1 of 1	77-52
8:58	+2	Hayden Jones makes two point layup (Nick Boyd assists)	77-54
8:34	+2	Oscar Cluff makes two point hook shot (Braden Smith assists)	79-54
8:23		Gicarri Harris personal foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
8:23	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-55
8:23	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-56
8:05		Jack Janicki personal foul (C.J. Cox draws the foul)
8:05	+1	C.J. Cox makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-56
8:05		C.J. Cox misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:05		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
8:04		Oscar Cluff personal foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
8:04	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-57
8:04	+1	Nolan Winter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-58
7:48		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point jump shot
7:46		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
7:33		Jack Janicki misses three point jump shot
7:31		Fletcher Loyer defensive rebound
7:16		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point jump shot
7:14		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
7:02	+3	Nolan Winter makes three point jump shot (Austin Rapp assists)	80-61
6:41		Fletcher Loyer turnover (lost ball) (Austin Rapp steals)
6:36	+2	Austin Rapp makes two point layup	80-63
6:10		Fletcher Loyer misses three point jump shot
6:08		Badgers defensive rebound
6:06		TV timeout
5:51		Jack Janicki turnover (bad pass) (C.J. Cox steals)
5:42	+2	Braden Smith makes two point jump shot	82-63
5:28	+2	Nolan Winter makes two point layup (Nick Boyd assists)	82-65
5:17		Braden Smith turnover (bad pass) (Austin Rapp steals)
5:10		Nick Boyd misses two point layup
5:08		Nolan Winter offensive rebound
5:06	+2	Nolan Winter makes two point layup	82-67
4:41		Braden Smith misses two point jump shot
4:39		Jack Janicki defensive rebound
4:28		Daniel Jacobsen shooting foul (Austin Rapp draws the foul)
4:28	+1	Austin Rapp makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-68
4:28	+1	Austin Rapp makes regular free throw 2 of 2	82-69
4:13		Braden Smith turnover (bad pass) (Jack Janicki steals)
4:07		Jack Janicki misses two point layup
4:05		Boilermakers defensive rebound
3:57		John Blackwell personal foul (Braden Smith draws the foul)
3:57		TV timeout
3:57	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2	83-69
3:57	+1	Braden Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-69
3:45	+2	John Blackwell makes two point jump shot	84-71
3:27		Braden Smith turnover (lost ball) (Nolan Winter steals)
3:22		Oscar Cluff shooting foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
3:22	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-72
3:22	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-73
2:57		Trey Kaufman-Renn misses two point jump shot
2:55		Oscar Cluff offensive rebound
2:51	+3	Fletcher Loyer makes three point jump shot (Oscar Cluff assists)	87-73
2:43		Austin Rapp misses three point jump shot
2:41		Nolan Winter offensive rebound
2:36		Austin Rapp misses three point jump shot
2:34		John Blackwell offensive rebound
2:28		Nick Boyd misses three point jump shot
2:26		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
2:04		Braden Smith misses two point jump shot
2:02		Boilermakers offensive rebound
1:55		Nolan Winter blocks Fletcher Loyer's two point layup
1:49		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
1:47		Fletcher Loyer offensive rebound
1:31	+2	C.J. Cox makes two point jump shot (Braden Smith assists)	89-73
1:14		Badgers 30 second timeout
1:12		John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
1:10		Trey Kaufman-Renn defensive rebound
1:07		Jump ball. Trey Kaufman-Renn vs. John Blackwell (Trey Kaufman-Renn gains possession)
0:53		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
0:51		Austin Rapp defensive rebound
0:36		Nick Boyd misses two point layup
0:34		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
0:23		C.J. Cox misses three point jump shot
0:21		Nolan Winter defensive rebound
0:10		Austin Rapp misses three point jump shot
0:08		Oscar Cluff defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Oscar Cluff defensive rebound