If you're frantically checking your phone or refreshing your feed to find out what's the score of the Purdue basketball game, you've probably caught the Boilermakers in the middle of their high-stakes West Coast swing. Honestly, tracking Matt Painter’s squad this season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, especially with the way they just handled Southern California.
Purdue’s men's team just wrapped up a grit-and-grind battle against USC at the Galen Center late Saturday night, January 17, 2026. If you're looking for that specific result, the No. 5 ranked Purdue Boilermakers defeated the USC Trojans 69-64. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece—more like a street fight in Los Angeles—but it moved the Boilers into a first-place tie in the Big Ten standings.
Breaking Down the Recent Purdue Score
The game was a tale of two halves. Actually, it was a tale of one guy deciding he wasn't going to lose. Braden Smith was absolutely heroic. Despite dealing with a knee that looked like it wanted to give out, he poured in 22 points.
USC came out swinging early. They went on a 16-0 run that left Purdue looking lost, trailing 22-8. The Galen Center isn't usually known for its atmosphere, but it was rocking as Gabe Dynes was throwing down dunks and the Trojans' defense was suffocating Purdue’s usual flow. Then, the switch flipped.
Purdue closed the first half on a 30-10 run.
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By halftime, the score was 38-32 in favor of the Boilers. It’s those kinds of swings that make college basketball so stressful for fans. Oscar Cluff was massive in the second half too, finishing with 19 points on nearly perfect shooting. He really stepped up when Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn were having off nights.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Purdue Team
There’s this narrative that Purdue is just a "big man" school. Since the Zach Edey era, everyone expects a 7-foot-4 giant to just camp in the paint. But this 2025-2026 roster is built differently.
Basically, they win with guard play and "junk yard dog" effort now. Take Jack Benter for example. He only scored five points against USC, but he grabbed seven rebounds and took two charges. That’s the stuff that doesn't show up in a simple "what's the score" Google search, but it’s why that final score favored the Boilermakers.
The Women’s Team is also in Action
Don't forget about the Purdue women's basketball team. They are scheduled to play their own game against USC at the Galen Center today, Sunday, January 18, 2026. The tip-off is set for 5:00 PM EST.
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If you're looking for that score right now, it's likely just getting underway or in the early stages of the first quarter. They’re coming off a solid 78-72 win against Washington, and they're looking to keep that momentum going in a tough road environment.
Why the Purdue Score Matters Today
Every bucket feels heavier right now. With the win over USC, the Purdue men moved to 17-1 overall and 7-0 in the Big Ten. They are officially tied with Nebraska at the top of the conference.
Next up for the men is a trip to Pauley Pavilion to face UCLA on Tuesday, January 20. It doesn't get any easier. The Big Ten's expansion to the West Coast has made these road trips brutal. Usually, a team would fly in, play one game, and head home. Now, they're staying out there for a week, dealing with time zone shifts and different officiating styles.
How to Stay Updated on the Score
If you want to stay on top of the live action without constantly searching what's the score of the Purdue basketball game, here are the most reliable ways to track them:
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- StatBroadcast: This is what the media uses. It’s a bit text-heavy, but it’s the fastest live data you can get.
- The Purdue Sports App: Kinda clunky sometimes, but it has the official radio call with Rob Blackman, which is way better than any TV announcer anyway.
- Peacock: Unfortunately for your wallet, a lot of these Big Ten games are tucked away on Peacock this year.
Looking Ahead at the Schedule
After this LA trip, the Boilers finally head back to the friendly confines of Mackey Arena. There is nothing like a home game in West Lafayette.
They’ve got Illinois coming to town on January 24. That game is going to be massive for the Big Ten title race. Then it’s the big one: a trip to Bloomington to face Indiana on January 27. Regardless of what the records are, that score is the only one that truly matters to people in the state of Indiana.
Purdue is currently favored in most of their upcoming matchups, but as the USC game showed, being a 9.5-point favorite doesn't mean much when the other team starts hitting threes and you're turning the ball over.
To keep your finger on the pulse of the Boilermakers, make sure you're checking the box scores for more than just the points. Look at the rebounding margins and the "points off turnovers." That’s where Matt Painter wins his games.
If the women’s team can pull off a win today against USC, it’ll be a clean sweep of the Trojans for the weekend. Keep an eye on those live updates as the evening progresses.
To stay ahead of the game, bookmark the official Big Ten standings page. Scores are great, but the context of the conference race is what determines who gets those top seeds in March. You should also consider following the local beat writers on social media; they often post score updates faster than the major sports apps during those frantic final minutes of a close game.