Medal Up

The Purdue Boilermakers, playing for team USA, capped an extremely successful 29th Summer Universiade Games in Taipei by bringing home the silver medal earlier today.
The Boilers (7-1) ran into a defensively minded team from Lithuania this morning (game time was 8 a.m. locally) and were defeated 85–74 in the gold medal game. Despite not bringing home the tournament’s top prize, Purdue brings home the experience of playing together in an eight-game tournament with international competition into its upcoming season.
What came out of this tournament for Coach Matt Painter and his crew is playing experience for the talented freshmen Nojel Eastern, the rightful emergence of senior Vince Edwards, and sophomore Carsen Edwards as leaders in not only scoring, but also with the team. In the championship game, “C-Boogie” as Carsen Edwards is known, scored a game-high 23 points and Edwards scored 16. Senior big man Isaac Haas was the only other Boiler in double figures, with 17.
The Boilermakers rode hot 3-point shooting through pool play and into the finals. During the final game, it was a lack of rebounding that finally doomed this squad. Lithuania captured nine more offensive rebounds and three more defensive boards.
This ran Purdue’s summer record to 9–1 after defeating Canada twice earlier this month. The Boilers open their regular season November 1 against Carroll (Montana) University at Mackey Arena.