There's a book store near the Purdue campus that, one day a week, gives 3-percent discounts for every three-pointer the men's basketball team makes. The store's owners are going to be thankful there's a cap on the discount following a 107-79 win over Vermont Sunday.
Purdue tossed in an all-time team record 18 threes, shooting 50-percent as a team from long range. The Boilers took a 15-point lead into halftime after shooting 10-of-19 from behind the arc in the first half -- accounting for more than half of their 17 made field goals in the first 20 minutes. For the game, the team made as many twos as it did threes.
The Catamounts, however, played well in the loss -- even as Purdue big men Caleb Swanigan and Isaac Haas put several of the visitors in foul trouble. Vermont shot 48-percent from the floor for the game, made 20 of its 24 free throw attempts, outscored Purdue in the paint and were out-rebounded by only one. Purdue's lead was cut to as few as 10 points at the start of the second half as the Boilermakers failed to score for the half's first three minutes.
But Purdue again went outside, quickly pushing its advantage back to 16 with threes by Vince Edwards and Swanigan and then to 26 a few minutes later in the midst of making ten consecutive shots.
Again, Matt Painter's offense was balanced, with six Boilers in double figures in scoring. Swanigan recorded his second double-double in as many collegiate games, with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Dakota Matthias scored a career-high 17 to pace Purdue and Vermont's Ernie Duncan, an Evansville native, led all scorers with 18.
Purdue matches up next against Incarnate Word on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Mackey Arena.