Live Game Thread & Updates for No. 1 Purdue vs. Eastern Illinois

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the first time in two weeks, top-ranked Purdue has returned to West Lafayette for a Black Friday showdown with Eastern Illinois. The Boilermakers will look to improve to 7-0 before their first Big Ten game of the season next week.

Follow along on Friday afternoon, as Purdue Boilermakers on SI provides live coverage and updates from Mackey Arena. You can visit this page often or hit the refresh button for news, updates, and analysis throughout the game.

#1 Purdue vs. Eastern Illinois live blog

Highlights

This assist sent @BoilerBall's Braden Smith to #2 on the Big Ten's all-time assists list 🤩 pic.twitter.com/nEWvN7pcLT
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 28, 2025

Trey Kaufman-Renn throws it down 👏 @BoilerBall

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/w7IDGY2vqv
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 28, 2025

Nothing but net for Fletcher Loyer 🔥 @BoilerBall

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/jjIRG3Fz4N
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 28, 2025

Omer Mayer to the rim 😤 @BoilerBall

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/LylPhRekq6
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 28, 2025

2nd half

FINAL: Purdue 109, Eastern Illinois 62. The Panthers were no match for the Boilermakers on Friday. Six different Purdue players were in double figures. Daniel Jacobsen scored 24, Fletcher Loyer had 15, Trey Kaufman-Renn dropped in 14, Gicarri Harris had 12, and Omer Mayer and Oscar Cluff each had 10. Braden Smith dished out 10 assists.

3:15 — Purdue has broken the century mark and leads this game 101-49. Daniel Jacobsen has been outstanding today, scoring 24 points, grabbing 9 rebounds and blocking 6 shots.

7:59 — Purdue is on a 21-0 run over the last 6:42. We're at the third media timeout of the second half and the Boilermakers lead 89-37. Eastern Illinois has been completely outmatched, especially in the second half.

8:34 — Jack Benter gets a layup following a steal by Gicarri Harris. everyone who has played in this game for Purdue has scored at least 2 points now.

11:14 — We've reached the second media timeout of the second half and Purdue added to points to its advantage, leading 80-37.

12:23 — Purdue can do no wrong right now, putting together another 10-0 run to take a 78-37 advantage on Eastern Illinois. Daniel Jacobsen now has 6 blocks in this game and has been a menace defensively. Fletcher Loyer has 15 points and is a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. Braden Smith is up to 10 assists.

15:18 — First media timeout of the second half and Purdue leads 68-37. Four Boilers are now in double figures for the game, led by Trey Kaufman-Renn with 14. Fletcher Loyer is up to 12 points, Daniel Jacobsen has 11, and Oscar Cluff has 10 points.

16:55 — A sweet behind-the-back pass from Braden Smith to Trey Kaufman-Renn for an easy dunk gets the Mackey Arena crowd on its feet as Purdue takes a 64-32 lead early in the second half.

1st half

HALF — Purdue 53, Eastern Illinois 28. The Boilermakers really closed that half out strong. After owning a 23-21 lead, they outscored EIU 30-5 and were able to break this game wide open. Boilers got 11 points from Daniel Jacobsen and 10 from Trey Kaufman-Renn that half. Jack Benter was the only Purdue guy to play in that half and not score.

Eastern Illinois only had 6 first half rebounds. The Panthers were led by Preston Turner, who scored 8 points and Meechie White, who scored 7.

3:43 — We've reached the final media timeout of the first half and Purdue owns a 41-26 lead on Eastern Illinois. Daniel Jacobsen has played really well in this game. He's blocked three shots and has defended the perimeter well with his 7-foot-4 size. He also has 8 points and 2 rebounds.

4:35 — Purdue has put together a 16-2 run to take a 39-23 advantage. Much better basketball from the Boilermakers in that stretch. Trey Kaufman-Renn has really come alive, he's now up to 10 points and 5 rebounds for the contest.

7:53 — After 4 quick points from Purdue to take a 27-21 lead, Eastern Illinois takes a timeout.

9:21 — Gicarri Harris only has 2 points so far, but has done some good things for Purdue today. He's gotten two big rebounds and just got a steal. His ability to not let his shooting impact his effort is a positive for the Boilers.

11:52 — Purdue leads Eastern Illinois 19-16 at the second media timeout of the game. The Boilermakers continue to struggle with turnovers, now at 7 for the game. They're also 2-of-6 from 3-point range but have connected on all 5 of their free throw attempts.

12:29 — Omer Mayer with a beautiful drive to the basket and he gets fouled. He connects on the free throw and the Boilermakers are now up 19-14. It's a 7-0 run for Purdue.

13:07 — Purdue's Daniel Jacobsen and EIU's Andrew Austin get tangled up and Jacobsen winds up on the floor. Officials review the play for a potential hook-and-hold. After a review, the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1.

14:04 — Two more turnovers immediately out of the media timeout for the Boilermakers. EIU retakes the lead at 14-12.

14:56 — We have reached the first media timeout of the game. The week off seems to have created a little rust for Purdue, which is tied 12-12 with Eastern Illinois. The Boilermakers have three early turnovers. CJ Cox is off to a good start, scoring 6 points early. Preston Turner also has 6 for EIU.

Pregame

Eastern Illinois starters — #3 Meechie White (G), #10 Preston Turner (G), #15 Andrew Austin (F), #24 Terry McMorris (F), #40 Kooper Jacobi.

Purdue starters — #0 CJ Cox (G), #2 Fletcher Loyer (G), #3 Braden Smith (G), #4 Trey Kaufman-Renn (F), #45 Oscar Cluff (C).

How to watch #1 Purdue vs. Eastern Illinois

What: Non-conference game
Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025
Tipoff time: Noon ET
Location: Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. (14,876 capacity)
TV: Big Ten Network
App: FOX Sports
TV announcers: Jack Kizer (play-by-play), Bruce Weber (analyst)
Radio: Purdue Global Radio Network — WAZY 96.5 FM (Lafayette); WKJG 100.9 FM (Fort Wayne); WNDE 1260 AM (Indianapolis); WGBF 1280 (Evansville); Sirius XM 390; View all listings: CLICK HERE
Radio announcers: Rob Blackman (play-by-play), Bobby Riddell (analyst), Wes Scott (producer).
Live stats: Purdue.StatBroadcast.com

Preview

There aren't many things that Eastern Illinois has done well, at least through its first six games of the season. But the Panthers will try to slow down the game, work the basketball into the paint, and aren't afraid to play a tight man-to-man defense.

Simmons' team doesn't take a lot of three-pointers and is shooting just 27.5% from behind the arc. Eastern Illinois also struggles to rebound the basketball and is averaging more turnovers than assists.

Enter Purdue, a team that has been rebounding at a high level since Kaufman-Renn's return and has been shooting the long ball at a 41.4% clip for the year. Those two factors alone give the Boilermakers a huge advantage.

With Kaufman-Renn, Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen in the post, Purdue should be able to take advantage of Eastern Illinois' limited size. If the Panthers double the post — which they like to do — the Boilers have enough shooters to knock down open shots.

Plus, as much as Eastern Illinois plays a tough-nosed defense, Purdue has done an excellent job avoiding turnovers, averaging fewer than 10 per game.

Any way you slice it, Purdue has a massive advantage in this game. This has the potential to be the most lopsided victory of the year for the Boilers.

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