Purdue Showcases High-Octane Offense in 87–55 Exhibition Victory Over Ball State

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Men’s Basketball kicked off its exhibition slate at Mackey Arena on Sunday afternoon with an emphatic 87–55 victory over in-state opponent Ball State. The performance offered fans a glimpse into a revamped, fast-paced Boilermaker squad.

Having lost four starters from previous lineups, head coach Matt Painter debuted a distinct, high-tempo style built around perimeter depth and active frontcourt play.

Key Game Highlights

Pace & Perimeter Firepower: The Boilermakers came out aggressive from beyond the arc, hoisting 25 three-point attempts in the first half alone and knocking down 10 to establish a 49–33 lead at halftime.
Guard Play Leads the Way: Junior guards Gicarri Harris and C.J. Cox spearheaded the scoring attack, putting up 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Frontcourt Answers the Call: Redshirt sophomore center Daniel Jacobsen paced the interior with 8 points and 6 rebounds, displaying heightened energy and physical presence. Freshman debutant Enzo Shahrvin provided strong bench minutes as Purdue controlled the glass with a 44–31 rebounding advantage.
Cardinals’ Resurgence Halsted: Ball State put together a 6–0 run midway through the second half—cutting the deficit to 59–44 following layups from K’Jei Parker and Sean Blake. However, Purdue quickly responded with defensive stops and transition buckets to put the game out of reach.

Game Summary

Team	First Half	Second Half	Final Score
Ball State Cardinals	33	22	55
Purdue Boilermakers	49	38	87

Takeaways & What’s Next

Sunday’s performance highlighted Purdue’s tactical flexibility. Rather than relying strictly on heavy interior post-ups, Coach Painter’s squad demonstrated quick ball movement, secondary break opportunities, and relentless perimeter defense.

Purdue: The Boilermakers continue their preseason preparations leading up to their formal regular-season opener against Gonzaga on November 2 at Mackey Arena.
Ball State: The Cardinals return to Muncie to host an exhibition game against Purdue Fort Wayne on October 28 before opening their regular season at Georgia Southern on November 2.