Villanova vs. Purdue score, takeaways: No. 6 Boilermakers rally after No. 5 Wildcats run out of steam

Villanova led by 11 with nine minutes remaining, but Purdue dominated the early-season showdown down the stretch to win 80-74

After trailing by 11 points midway through the second half, No. 6 Purdue kicked things into high gear and rolled to a 80-74 win over No. 5 Villanova on Sunday in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The Boilermakers hit 11 consecutive shots from the field down the stretch and had six players score between nine and 21 points as they secured a marquee early-season win.

Zach Edey led all scorers with 21 points, and the 7-foot-4 center sealed the game for Purdue with a vicious and-one dunk with 57 seconds left that put the Boilermakers up by 10 points. Purdue shot 53% from the floor, led by Edey's 9-of-12 effort.

Villanova took a 54-43 lead with 9:54 remaining on a Justin Moore 3-pointer during a stretch that saw the teams trade outside shots. But down the stretch, it was all Purdue as the Boilermakers dominated in transition and in the paint. Moore led Villanova with 19 points, while Caleb Daniels contributed 17 and Collin Gillespie added 14. Aside from Edey, it was a balanced effort for the Boilermakers, but Isaiah Thompson's 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range were especially important as he helped Purdue weather Villanova's outside shooting spree in the second half.

Purdue's depth shines

Only two players logged more than 24 minutes for Purdue, and no one logged more than 33 as coach Matt Painter deployed a 10-man rotation. It was no coincidence that the well-rested Boilermakers surged down the stretch against a Villanova team that really went just six deep. Four of Villanova's starters played 36 or more minutes, and it looked like fatigue was again an issue after the Wildcats also faded in overtime during a loss to No. 2 UCLA on Nov. 12.

Developing depth will be a necessity for Villanova to reach its full potential, but the Wildcats should be able to do it. Junior guard Bryan Antoine is on the mend from a patella tendon injury, and freshman forward Nnanna Njoku is recovering from a concussion. If Wright can consistently get Gillespie, Moore and Samuels some more rest, it'll do wonders for this team's ability to close games.

Boilermakers in transition

Edey and fellow star big man Trevion Williams make Purdue one of the most fierce interior offenses in the country, and that was demonstrated in Purdue's 38-18 edge in paint points. But the Boilermakers can get out and run as well. That was evident during their second half run Sunday as Purdue finished with a 17-2 edge in fast break points. The Boilermakers also finished with a 32-15 advantage in fast break points against North Carolina on Saturday. 

Poll implications

The Boilermakers will jump Villanova in the polls on Monday, but just how high will they rise? With No. 4 Michigan also losing to Seton Hall this past week, Purdue should at least be No. 4. With two wins over top-20 teams now on its resume, it has a case to be even higher. No. 3 Kansas has a nice win over Michigan State to its credit, but the Spartans were not ranked, and the Jayhawks have only played Tarleton State and Stony Brook since then.

No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 UCLA should be safe. But they play each other on Tuesday, which could mean that Purdue will rise even higher in another week, so long as it avoids a slip up against Omaha next Friday.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 3:05 pm ET · David Cobb]

Marquee win for Purdue

Insanely impressive neutral site win for Purdue, as the Wildcats rally from 11 down in the second half to win 80-74. Boilermakers shoot an insane 53% from the field, led by Zach Edey's 9 of 12 outing. They also got some timely 3s from Isaac Thompson when Villanova was making it rain and trying to pull away. It's only November, but the good teams in college basketball are already looking like well-oiled machines.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:56 pm ET · David Cobb]

Purdue has hit 10 straight from the field and has six players between 8 and 21 points.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:52 pm ET · David Cobb]

Purdue has hit 9 straight from the floor, and Villanova is 1 of its last seven. What a turnaround as the Boilermakers take control late.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:46 pm ET · David Cobb]

OK then Zach Edey

 The big fella throws down a monster dunk to tie it, then Purdue gets out in transition and Furst hits a lay-up off the Ivey assist. What a rally for Purdue. Getting into transition has been huge the last few minutes for this team. Edey is up to 18 points, and Nova hasn't scored from the field in over four minutes.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:40 pm ET · David Cobb]

Purdue lives!

Wildcats call for a timeout with 5:17 left after Furst draws the Boilermakers within a point with a dunk off a Jaden Ivey assist. It's a 14-4 run that included a breakaway lay-in from Stefanovic on a steal off a lazy Collin Gillespie pass. This team is really good in transition, but Villanova hadn't given up anything in transition until….seemingly now.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Isaiah Thompson's contributions here have been massive. He knocks down another 3 for Purdue to draw the Boilermakers within 4.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:32 pm ET · David Cobb]

Shooting contest

It's turned in to a 3-point shooting contest as we hit the u8 timeout with the teams swapping long-range bombs. Villanova leads 60-51. Five of the last six buckets from the floor are 3 pointers, with Collin Gillespie hitting the most recent at the 7:40 mark. Purdue needs some stops, because it doesn't have the firepower to hang with Gillesipie, Moore and Daniels in a 3-point shooting showdown.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:22 pm ET · David Cobb]

Cold snap

Since a note just a few minutes ago about how Villanova had not committed a turnover, the Wildcats have committed two. Purdue is in a slump, but Villanova's offense is suddenly out of sync as well, which is allowing the Boilermakers to hang around. 47-41 Nova at the u12 media timeout. Both teams have gone cold.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:19 pm ET · David Cobb]

Jaden Ivey quiet

Purdue's star sophomore has been MIA in the second half so far, and Sasha Stefanovic isn't hitting either after his big game yesterday. Boilermakers going to need their perimeter dudes to make some plays if they are going to keep pace with Villanova's elite guards.

[Nov 21, 2021 at 2:13 pm ET · David Cobb]

Wild stat

Here's a stat that's almost impossible to believe: Villanova has 0 turnovers. Purdue has committed just 7, but it's INSANE to be into the second half of a game vs. a quality opponent and have committed no turnovers. Speaks to the veteran savvy of this Villanova squad. This team won't beat itself.