Trey Kaufman-Renn recorded 19 points and 13 rebounds to help top-ranked Purdue cruise to an 81-65 victory over Rutgers on Tuesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams at Piscataway, N.J.
Braden Smith made four 3-pointers and had 16 points and eight assists for the Boilermakers (8-0). Fletcher Loyer scored 12 points and Gicarri Harris added 11 points for Purdue.
Dylan Grant and Harun Zrno scored 13 points apiece for Rutgers (5-4), which has dropped four of its last five games.
Purdue shot 46.6 percent from the field, including 10 of 26 from 3-point range. Harris made three of his four attempts from long distance.
The Boilermakers held a 36-25 rebounding advantage and a 14-7 edge in fast-break points.
The Scarlet Knights connected on 44.6 percent of their attempts and were 8 of 17 from behind the arc.
Purdue led by 13 points early in the second half before rattling off 12 consecutive points to end any suspense.
Smith and Loyer each scored five points during the run. It was Loyer’s 3-pointer that gave the Boilermakers a game-best 54-29 lead with 16:09 left.
Grant’s basket pulled Rutgers within 66-48 with 8:42 to play before C.J. Cox made two free throws and Kaufman-Renn slammed home a dunk to push the lead to 22 with 7:22 left.
The Scarlet Knights trimmed down the final deficit with a late 8-2 run before Oscar Cluff scored the game’s final basket for the Boilermakers.
Smith and Harris each scored 11 first-half points as Purdue took a 40-27 lead at the break.
Harris drained a 3-pointer to cap an early 18-3 run as the Boilermakers led by 11 with 11:41 left in the first half.
Rutgers scored the next 10 points, ending with a jumper by Denis Badalau, to move within 20-19 with 7:37 remaining.
Purdue then ripped off the next 10 points with Harris draining a trey to make it 30-19 with 3:38 left.
