Sharp-shooting Purdue knocks off Auburn

Going into Wednesday night’s game, Bruce Pearl was concerned with Purdue’s size advantage. But it was the 17th-ranked Boilermakers outside shooting that made the difference.

Purdue made 17-of-26 3-pointers to bury Auburn 96-71 in the Cancun Challenge championship game.

“I’m disappointed that Purdue’s guards scored as well as they did,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Their backcourt really hurt us, really hurt us in transition. I wanted to play fast and they were better playing fast than we were. Disappointed.”

It was a tight game until Purdue took command with a 22-2 run midway through the second half. The Boilermakers held a 39-23 rebound advantage and shot 64.3 percent from the floor including 76.0 percent in the second half.

Danjel Purifoy led Auburn with 22 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Mustapha Heron added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds while T.J. Dunans had 10 points, four assists and two steals.

The Tigers forced 21 turnovers.

Auburn shot 41.0 percent from the field and made just 6-of-24 3-pointers. Bryce Brown was 0-of-3 from beyond the arc, Jared Harper 1-of-6, TJ Lang 0-of-2 and Heron 1-of-3.

“I thought we had to make threes. I thought we had to make shots and we didn’t, and boy did they,” Pearl said.

Carsen Edwards led Purdue with 21 points, making 4-of-5 3-pointers. P.J. Thompson and Vincent Edwards had 15 points apiece while Dakota Mathias added 12 points including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Purdue’s 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas from Hokes Bluff, Ala., finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight turnovers. He came into the game averaging 20.3 points pre game.

“I thought we did a pretty good job doubling the post,” Pearl said.

Auburn (4-1) hosts USC Upstate Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network Alternate.