Live Game Thread & Updates for No. 5 Purdue vs. Penn State

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — No. 5 Purdue hosts Penn State for the second of a three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon. The Boilermakers are 4-0 in Big Ten play while the Nittany Lions enter the contest searching for their first conference victory of the season.

Follow along as Purdue Boilermakers on SI brings you up-to-date news, information, analysis, and updates live from Mackey Arena on Saturday afternoon. You can refresh this page throughout the afternoon for the latest updates.

#5 Purdue vs. Penn State game blog

2nd half

FINAL: Purdue 93, Penn State 85. Braden Smith with a monster day, finishing with 26 points and 14 assists. Oscar Cluff also had an outstanding day, going for 23 points and 7 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer scored 17 and CJ Cox had 16.

For Penn State, Freddie Dilione V led the way with 25 points and 5 assists. Mileh Tunca scored 14 points and Eli Rice added 11 for the Nittany Lions.

1:08 — Penn State's Freddie Dilione V hits a tough three-pointer to make the score 91-82. Again, the Boilermakers should escape here with a win, but the Nittany Lions are not making this easy by any stretch.

2:43 — CJ Cox came up with some big defensive plays that allowed Purdue to stretch out its lead, but Penn State refuses to go away. It's 88-79 Boilers. It would take a lot for the Nittany Lions to mount a comeback, but it's not out of the question just yet. Braden Smith has been sensational, he's up to 26 points and 14 assists today.

5:00 — Purdue forces a steal and CJ Cox takes it all the way for a bucket and a foul. The crowd at Mackey Arena erupts. The sophomore then knocks down the free throw to give the Boilers an 86-74 lead. Big moment in the game.

7:12 — Oscar Cluff gets another big offensive rebound, his fourth of the day, and gets a bucket to put Purdue ahead 76-67. He's made some big-time plays today that have gone unmentioned. He's now up to 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.

10:09 — Purdue is getting a little sloppy now. Penn State has gotten some good looks at the basket and continues to stay within striking distance. The Boilers are also picking up some silly fouls. They're up to five for the half.

11:48 — Fletcher Loyer gets a layup and the basket and is fouled, he'll get an and-1 opportunity when we return from the media timeout. Purdue leads Penn State 65-55. It's been a much better half on both ends for the Boilermakers, but they still haven't quite been able to put the Nittany Lions away.

14:40 — A much better defensive effort in the first five minutes of the second half to give Purdue a 60-51 advantage at the first media timeout. Braden Smith has been elite today, scoring 22 points and dishing out 10 assists. Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn each have 5 rebounds for the Boilermakers.

17:09 — CJ Cox blows the roof off of Mackey Arena after knocking down a triple. That was a big one, giving Purdue a 55-47 advantage less than three minutes into the second half. He has 8 points and Braden Smith is up to 8 assists. Purdue is on a 10-3 run to start the second half.

18:35 — Purdue scores the first five points of the second half to take a 50-44 lead on Penn State. But Dominick Stewart was fouled by Fletcher Loyer on a three-point attempt. Loyer was adamant he didn't foul and fans aren't happy, either. It's 50-47 Boilers.

1st half

HALF: Penn State is also winning the rebounding battle 12-10. If not for Braden Smith, this game would be lopsided in favor of the Nittany Lions. The Boilers need a much a better effort, especially defensively, in the second half.

HALF: Purdue 45, Penn State 44. The Boilermakers couldn't get a stop in that first half, as Penn State shot 59% from the floor and 47.1% from three. Braden Smith led the way for Purdue with 17 points and 7 assists. Oscar Cluff had 9 points and 4 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer had 8 points.

Penn State has great offensive balance. Freddie Dilione V leads the way with 9 points, while Mileh Tunca, Josh Reed, and Eli Rice all have 8 points.

1:00 — A big problem for Purdue has been its inability to get a stop. Penn State entered this game shooting 31.9% from three. The Lions are 8-of-16 in the first half.

2:42 — Purdue's run ends at 11-0 before Mileh Tunca banked in a three-point attempt. It was a much-needed run for the Boilermakers, who are finally starting to find some offense outside of Braden Smith.

4:03 — Fletcher Loyer knocks down a triple to put Purdue back in front, then Braden Smith gets a steal and finds Loyer again, who takes it to the basket for a layup. Penn State coach Mike Rhoades takes a timeout as the Boilermakers now lead 33-29. It's a 9-0 run for the black and gold.

5:49 — Purdue now faces its largest deficit of the game at 29-24 and fans in Mackey Arena provide the Boilers with some encouragement. Immediately, Oscar Cluff gets an and-1 with a chance to cut into the lead.

7:00 — Penn State takes a 26-24 lead out of the timeout with a bucket from Ivan Juric. It's been a tough showing for Purdue this half, as Braden Smith is getting no help on offense and the defense is struggling to defend the Nittany Lions.

7:27 — At the third media timeout Purdue and Penn State are tied at 24-24. Braden Smith is 6-of-7 with 15 points and 3 assists. The rest of the team is 4-of-12 from the field. Penn State is 9-of-17 from the floor with four made three-pointers. Ivan Juric has been a problem on the glass, grabbing 4 rebounds for PSU.

9:07 — Nobody else is really getting involved in Purdue's offense right now. Braden Smith has 15 of Purdue's 22 points as the Boilermakers own a 22-19 advantage. It's fine for now, but someone else is going to have to step up at some point.

11:05 — Trey Kaufman-Renn is responsible for Purdue's first foul of the game and it will send Penn State to the line when we're back from the media timeout. The Boilermakers leads the Nittany Lions 17-15. Penn State is 6-of-12 from the floor, but nobody has more than three points.

12:06 — Braden Smith is already taking this game over offensively. He's up to 10 points and has helped Purdue to a 17-12 lead. He's playing really well to start.

14:51 — Oscar Cluff is fouled on his way to the basket off of a beautiful Braden Smith pass. That foul takes us to the first media timeout and Purdue owns a 9-8 lead on Penn State. Fletcher Loyer is off to a bumpy start, missing his first two shots. Boilers getting some work done in the post, with 6 points in the paint between Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff. Penn State has gotten a pair of triples from Josh Reed and Eli Rice.

18:30 — Penn State strikes first with a triple from Eli Rice. Purdue missed its first two shot attempts before getting a bucket from Trey Kaufman-Renn. 3-2 Nittany Lions to start.

Starting lineups

Penn State: #5 Freddie Dilione V (G), #7 Dominick Stewart (G), #11 Eli Rice (G), #3 Ivan Juric (F), #10 Josh Reed (F).

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

Availability report

Purdue: No players are listed on the injury report.

Penn State: Kayden Mingo and Tibor Mirtic are listed as "out." Reggie Grodin is out for the season.

Tipoff between No. 5 Purdue and Penn State is set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will air on Big Ten Network.

How to watch #5 Purdue vs. Penn State

What: Big Ten Conference game
Date: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
Tipoff time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. (14,876 capacity)
TV: Big Ten Network
App: FOX Sports
Announcers: Jack Kizer (play-by-play), Shon Morris (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 84; View all listings: CLICK HERE
Radio announcers: Rob Blackman (play-by-play), Bobby Riddell (analyst), Wes Scott (producer).
Live stats: Purdue.StatBroadcast.com
All-time series: Purdue leads the all-time series 47-14
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Purdue has a 96.6% chance to defeat Penn State

Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can't-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!