WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the first time this season, No. 4 Purdue has been cautioned without top scorer second guard Jaden Ivey. Before a game against Indiana on the road on Thursday, Ivey suffered a hip flexor injury in practice but held off the Hoosiers.

He scored a team-high 21 points in a 68-65 loss but missed the next two days of practice leading up to a matchup with Northwestern on Sunday at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers managed to pull off a 20-point win in his absence, but coach Matt Painter still doesn’t know when he’ll be back in gear.

“I have no idea,” Painter said after the team’s 80-60 victory. “Every time they say he can go. Preparing your team a bit the same way, although we’re going to handle some things differently. I think that’s the only thing that would be different.”

Without Ivey on the ground, Purdue’s guards combined for 42 points. Senior Sasha Stefanovic led the team with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Senior Eric Hunter Jr. finished the game with 10 points and added five assists and two steals.

Junior Isaiah Thompson scored all of his points for the Boilermakers early in the second half, setting up the team’s first eight after halftime. Sophomore Brandon Newman got his first start of the year but couldn’t find his groove and finished 0-5 from the 3-point line.

Sophomore Ethan Morton scored just two more points in 27 minutes, but he led the team with a 23 over/under rating.

Purdue is gearing up for another road game on Thursday, a trip to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to face Iowa. This is the third game on the road in the Boilermakers’ last four games.

“If he can go on Thursday, so much the better. Otherwise, other players will have to step in and play,” Painter said. “I thought we had really good production. I thought Eric Hunter had a great game, Isaiah didn’t return the basketball, Ethan Morton was very solid.

“Caleb Furst had seven points in that streak which was really beneficial. I think our bench did a really good job and then Sasha played well and really balanced things out.”

Purdue Basketball Stories

• PURDUE CRUISES TO CONQUER THE NORTHWEST: Senior guard Sasha Stefanovic was 6-10 from the 3-point line and added four free throws to lead Purdue to a 20-point victory over Northwestern on Sunday at Mackey Arena. He was one of four Boilermakers to finish the game in double digits. CLICK HERE
• PURDUE, LIVE BLOG FROM THE NORTH WEST: Purdue basketball was home for a game against Northwestern at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers were looking to win their 10th straight game against the Wildcats, but were without sophomore star Jaden Ivey. CLICK HERE
• HOW PURDUE DID NOT FAIL TO CLOSE AGAINST INDIANA: The No. 4 Purdue led Indiana by two points with a minute left Thursday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Boilermakers had the opportunity to shut down the Hoosiers, but the team couldn’t put the game away in the final seconds. CLICK HERE
• PURDUE DROPS ROAD MATCHUP AGAINST INDIANA: Purdue basketball couldn’t put Indiana on the road Thursday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Sophomore goaltender Jaden Ivey scored a team-high 21 points in the loss, but 20 points from Rob Phinisee powered the Hoosiers to victory. CLICK HERE

Become a member of the Boilermakers Country community!