INDIANAPOLIS – Zhuric Phelps and Pharrel Payne each scored 16 points to lead No. 17 Texas A&M over No. 11 Purdue 70-66 on Saturday in the first of two games at the Indy Classic.

The Aggies (9-2) have won five straight. Payne had his highest point total of the season with nine points and rebounds. All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV finished the game with 15 points and five assists before an injury forced him to leave the game with 1:36 minutes to play.

Braden Smith led the Boilermakers (8-3) with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Fletcher Loyer had 12 points as Purdue lost for the second time in three games.

It was a physical contest between two teams that excel at rebounding, with their bodies repeatedly hitting the floor and with several players sidelined with injuries. Smith briefly went away in the first half when his head appeared to touch Payne’s knee, and referees stopped play for Taylor when he struggled to dribble across the midfield line. Taylor did not return.

Texas A&M’s defense turned the game around by holding the Boilermakers scoreless for 6:35 of the second half, allowing the Aggies to extend their lead to two points to 62-50.

Takeaways

Texas A&M: The Aggies rebound and defend as well as any team in the country. That devastating combination helped the team hand Purdue a rare non-conference loss — and added a strong note to their NCAA Tournament resume.

Purdue: The Boilermakers’ bugbear this season has been turnovers, and that was the case again on Saturday. Purdue struggled for much of the second half, committing another 16 turnovers for a total of 48 turnovers in the last three games.

Key moment

After Purdue cut a seven-point deficit to 52-50, the Aggies held off the Boilermakers, scoring 10 straight points to extend the lead to 62-50 with 4:44 to play.

Key statistics

Purdue had its third-lowest shooting percentage of the season (45.3%). Texas A&M has held all 11 opponents below their season average.

Next

The Aggies return to play Friday night when they host Houston Christian. Purdue faces another ranked opponent, No. 2 Auburn, next Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

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