WEST LAFAYETTE — Braden Smith proclaimed he plays with "the best shooter in the country."

After Fletcher Loyer 's season-opening performance, you'd be hard-pressed to disagree.

Top-ranked Purdue basketball found itself in an early funk, leading Evansville by just three points.

That's when the senior sharpshooter got hot, drained three 3s in a row and the Boilermakers boat-raced an inferior Purple Aces team 82-51 Tuesday at Mackey Arena.

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