Coach Painter’s Boilermakers didn’t take long to get their first signature win of the season, handling the North Carolina Tar Heels 93-84 in the second game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament.
This sets up the biggest marquee match-up of the early season when #6 Purdue plays #5 Villanova after Villanova took down #17 Tennessee in the previous game.
For the Boilers, it was an offensive performance in three parts.
Sasha Stefanovic carried his strong shooting start into this one, knocking down his first 4 three-pointers, dropping 14 points in the first ten minutes, and finishing the game with 23 points on 13 shots, including 5 three-pointers and a game 8 assists.