On a freezing, snowy afternoon in West Lafayette, Purdue’s Braden Smith brought the heat with an electrifying performance. The junior guard lit up Northwestern, scoring 22 points, dishing out seven assists, and grabbing six rebounds to lead the 20th-ranked Boilermakers to a commanding 79-61 victory.

This game was just the latest in a series of standout performances from Smith, who has been on fire recently. Last weekend, he exploded for 34 points and 12 assists in a win over Toledo. A few days later, he delivered another stellar game against Minnesota, finishing with 20 points and six assists.

“Braden’s hunger and confidence in shooting drive this team,” said Purdue coach Matt Painter. “When he’s reading the floor and making plays, we’re at our best. His ability to shoot and pass is really special.”

Purdue took control of the game right from the start. They raced to a quick 7-0 lead and were up 11-3 by the first timeout. Their dominance wasn’t just about scoring; they also dominated the boards. By the first break, Purdue already had a 5-0 rebounding edge, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

At halftime, Purdue led Northwestern 41-18, thanks in large part to Smith’s incredible first half—17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. In the second half, the Boilermakers extended their lead to as much as 29 points before Northwestern managed to close the gap slightly in the final minutes.

While Smith was the standout star, Purdue got plenty of help from his teammates. Trey Kaufman-Renn and CJ Cox each chipped in 12 points. Fletcher Loyer added nine, Myles Colvin scored seven, and Raleigh Burgess contributed six.

The Boilermakers were efficient on offense, shooting 50.9% overall and 40% from beyond the arc. On defense, they shut down Northwestern’s scoring efforts, holding the Wildcats to just 38.3% shooting.

This was a true team effort for Purdue, but Smith stole the show once again. Over his last three games, he’s been averaging an impressive 25.3 points, 9.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. His strong play hasn’t gone unnoticed—he hit the milestone of 1,000 career points during Thursday’s game against Minnesota. On Sunday, he moved into second place on Purdue’s all-time assist leaderboard.

For Smith, it’s all about helping his team win. With three straight victories under their belt, Purdue is building momentum and hopes to keep their winning streak alive when they face Rutgers on Thursday. If Smith keeps playing at this level, the Boilermakers will be a tough team to beat.

### Key Highlights:
– **Smith Climbs Assist Leaderboard**: Braden Smith is now second on Purdue’s all-time assist list and could make history soon.
– **1,000 Career Points**: Smith reached this milestone against Minnesota, and Fletcher Loyer is close behind.
– **Team Success**: Purdue’s balance of scoring and rebounding continues to drive their Big Ten dominance.