Basketball Recap: Purdue Polytechnic Takes a Loss

Purdue Polytechnic was the 70-63 winner over Lafayette Jefferson when they last played one another back in January of 2024, but their luck changed this time around. The Purdue Polytechnic Techies were outmatched by the Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos and fell 83-49. While losing is never fun, the Techies can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Indiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 142nd, while the Bronchos are ranked 30th).

Purdue Polytechnic lost on Saturday despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Damion Green, who went 5 for 11 on his way to 15 points and four blocks. Green is on a roll when it comes to blocks, as he's now posted three or more in the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was James Long Jr., who went 5 of 8 en route to 13 points.

Lafayette Jefferson was led to victory by Alonzo Clawson-Smith and Devion Penny. Clawson-Smith went 13 for 19 on his way to 31 points and four steals, while Penny dropped a double-double on 24 points and ten boards. The dominant performance gave Clawson-Smith a new career-high in points. Aaden Aytch was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on 12 points and nine rebounds.

This is the second loss in a row for Purdue Polytechnic and nudges their season record down to 12-8. As for Lafayette Jefferson, the victory was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 14-3.

Purdue Polytechnic will welcome Indianapolis Arsenal Technical at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Indianapolis Arsenal Technical is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 52.9 points per game this season. As for Lafayette Jefferson, they are taking a road trip to square off against McCutcheon at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. McCutcheon is on a four-game streak of home wins, Lafayette Jefferson a five-game streak of away wins -- so someone will have to leave a streak behind on the court.