Purdue Tops Alabama 87-78 in Upset

In a thrilling matchup, No. 13 Purdue defeated No. 2 Alabama 87-78, maintaining their perfect record at home. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers with a career-high 26 points, while freshman C.J. Cox sparked a crucial 13-0 run that shifted momentum in Purdue's favor. Alabama had initially taken a six-point lead in the second half but struggled to contain Purdue's execution and offensive sets, as noted by coach Nate Oats. The loss marked Alabama's first nonconference defeat since December 2020, highlighting their ongoing adjustments under pressure. Braden Smith added a double-double for Purdue, while Alabama's Labaron Philon led their scoring with 18 points off the bench. This game further established Purdue's reputation as a formidable post-up team, even without their star center Zach Edey, who left for the NBA.