Michigan State made a spirited run to dig out of the oceanic trench Purdue flung it into on Sunday in West Lafayette, Indiana, by chopping a 22-point lead down to four off a late second-half surge. But the Boilermakers would not be had on their home court; not with the way they shot the ball from deep, the way they were more physical than Sparty throughout, the way they closed by hitting clutch free throws to seal a 73-63 win, one after another, in front of a capacity crowd in Mackey Arena.
Michigan State outscored Purdue in the second half, pouring in 44 points and adding six triples to make the rowdy contingent of Boilermakers sweat, if only for a moment, but the Boilermakers' 37-19 halftime lead proved impossible to surmount. And once again, they held a demonstration proving they are a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, the last submission of evidence coming replete with its own conference shakeup.
It's a testament to what Matt Painter has built and sustained that no matter the cast of characters, whether it's Vincent Edwards, Carsen Edwards or Edward Scissorhands, Purdue is going to win at a high clip. With a win over the Big Ten's top dog, its most impressive bullet-point on the resume to date, it has validated its standing as a tournament team once more. With five straight wins, including eight of the last nine, now it's a matter of high how the Boilermakers can climb between now and Selection Sunday.
For Michigan State, a stumble was imminent. The Spartans hadn't lost since Nov. 27 in an overtime affair against Louisville, and came in on a 13-game winning streak dating back to Nov. 30. It was only a matter of time before they got caught in a tough road tilt. Regardless, this team is on track to be a lock for a top-2 seed come March Madness. With a resume that features 12 wins over top-100 opponents and an 8-3 mark against top-50 clubs, Tom Izzo's team is still sitting beautifully as it prepares for the final full month of league play.
All credit to Purdue, though. The way in which it made its emphatic statement -- a double-digit win over a top-10 team -- is certainly impressive on its own merit. But doing so without a vintage Carsen Edwards game bolsters its overall profile. Edwards, who has played at the level of a First-Team All-American all season, shot just 4 of 19 from the floor and 3 of 11 from 3, finishing with 14 points, three assists and three steals.
It's a stark contrast compared to how Purdue looked earlier in the season against Texas, when it needed 40 points from Edwards but still couldn't close out on the road because of a shaky showing from the supporting cast. Purdue's gone and grown up like a weed since then, and its secondary playmakers -- which played a big role in its win Sunday -- appear to be reason for optimism that it can get back to the NCAA Tournament with ease for a fifth consecutive season under Matt Painter and Co.
