Braden Smith made history by breaking the Big Ten’s career assists record, and No. 5 Purdue dominated Wisconsin with a strong second-half performance to secure an 89-73 victory on Saturday night in Madison, Wis.

Smith needed just nine more assists to tie the previous record of 890 set by Michigan State’s Cassius Winston from 2017-2020. He surpassed that mark with 9:22 left in regulation when he drove to the basket and passed to Oscar Cluff for a layup and a free throw, extending Purdue’s lead to 77-52. Smith finished the game with 14 points and 12 assists, leading a balanced attack for the Boilermakers.

Fletcher Loyer was the top scorer for Purdue (13-1, 3-0 Big Ten) with 20 points, while C.J. Cox added 14 points. Oscar Cluff contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Trey Kaufman-Renn chipped in 11 points.

On the other side, Wisconsin (9-5, 1-2) struggled to keep up, despite Nick Boyd’s 24 points and Nolan Winter’s 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Badgers shot just 16% from beyond the arc, making only 4 of 25 three-point attempts.

John Blackwell started the game strongly, scoring three layups in the first 2:11 to give Wisconsin a 9-2 lead. However, he would score just three more points for the rest of the game. Purdue responded with a 10-9 run, fueled by Loyer’s layup and back-to-back 3-pointers from Cox and Loyer.

Wisconsin briefly regained the lead on a jumper by Aleksas Bielauskas and a drive by Boyd. But after Blackwell picked up his second foul and left the game with 8:54 remaining in the half, Purdue took control. The Boilermakers went on a 15-9 run over the final six minutes of the half to take a 45-38 lead into halftime. Smith played a key role, scoring four points and dishing out four assists during the stretch.

With 16:38 remaining in the game, Smith picked up his third foul while Purdue led 53-44. Instead of benching him, head coach Matt Painter told Smith, “Don’t foul. You got three.” Purdue continued to dominate, going on a 10-point run. Smith found Loyer for a 3-pointer, Cox hit two free throws and a 3-pointer, and Loyer converted another Smith assist for a layup, making it 63-44 and forcing Wisconsin to call a timeout.

Smith tied the Big Ten record with his ninth assist of the game — a cross-court pass to Gicarri Harris for a 3-pointer with 12:59 remaining. Despite a late 17-4 run by Wisconsin to cut the lead to 84-73 with 3:22 to go, Purdue sealed the win. Loyer hit a second-chance 3-pointer, and Cox sank a 15-foot baseline pullup, ending any suspense.

Key Performances

• Braden Smith: 14 points, 12 assists, broke Big Ten career assists record.
• Fletcher Loyer: 20 points, including crucial 3-pointers in the second half.
• C.J. Cox: 14 points, including two key 3-pointers.
• Oscar Cluff: 12 points, 11 rebounds.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn: 11 points, contributing off the bench.

Wisconsin’s Struggles

• Nick Boyd: 24 points, but couldn’t carry the team.
• Nolan Winter: 18 points, 10 rebounds, but ineffective shooting.
• Three-point shooting: 4 of 25 (16%), a major factor in the loss.

Game Highlights

• Purdue erased an early deficit and took control in the second half.
• Smith’s leadership and ability to avoid fouls were critical.
• Wisconsin’s inability to contain Purdue’s balanced offense proved costly.

Purdue’s win not only extended their dominance in the Big Ten but also cemented Smith’s legacy as one of the conference’s greatest players.