Purdue has plenty to clean up to prove it is No. 1 team by season's end

AI-assisted summary

Purdue men's basketball defeated Oakland 87-77 in a closer-than-expected game.

The Boilermakers struggled with poor 3-point shooting and were outrebounded, particularly in the first half.

Guard Braden Smith was a key player, finishing with 20 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.

Coach Matt Painter expressed a need for the team to improve its defense and rebounding effort.

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue men’s basketball made its victorious departure from Keady Court on Friday night to the band’s rendition of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.”

One assumes those horns and woodwinds had something else queued up for the Boilermakers ’ worst-case scenario. They almost needed Plan B at the hands of Oakland, which finally succumbed 87-77 after playing with the pres