Purdue 82, Evansville 51: Postgame Video
![](/<figure><img alt="" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/a76ff1fa5821554b34c8ad525ec535d0" data-uuid="2d533357-13e1-3450-998d-42fbad73fc33"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">The 2025-26 season is underway and the debut was a successful one for the No. 1 ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Fletcher Loyer had a career high 30 points, Jacke Benter had 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in his first collegeate game, and Braden Smith started the year with 11 assists as Purdue beat Evansville 82-51. </p><p class="has-text-align-none">Here is the postgme video from Mackey Arena:</p><div class="youtube-embed"></div><div class="youtube-embed"></div><p class="has-text-align-none">Some of my initial observations:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>I really like how Benter was aggressive in the early going. He got the start thanks to Trey Kaufman-Renn being out and seized the opportunity. </li><li>Oscar Cluff is not Zach Edey, but he is an upgrade in the middle from last season. </li><li>Daniel Jacobsen looked a little rusty at times, but Cluff’s presence allows him to ease into the season. Having both in the middle will help Purdue’s defensive tremendously. </li><li>Omer Mayer giving Braden even five extra minutes of rest each night is huge. </li><li>CJ Cox and Gicarri Harris were both pretty quiet. They’ll have some big moments later this year and I can see them really taking over next season. </li><li>Loyer likes shooting wide open threes at home. We shou;d keep that up. </li><li>Jacobsen and Cluff combining for 20 points and 18 rebounds with three blocks are Edey-like numbers. Bonus that split between the two of them we don’t have to take a big off the floor. </li><li>First career points for Aaron Fine. Good job, young man!</li></ul><img alt="" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/7d75812ecdeb4c2abafa029a89b55b6c" title="" data-uuid="75485eab-3774-3733-a1ef-be3544724df6"><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Purdue won by 31 points without one of its All-Americans. That’s a good sign. </li><li>No sign of Antione West when even the walk-ons got in. I think we have our answer on if he redshirts. </li><li>Evansville shot just 30% from the field. Defense is back!</li></ul><p class="has-text-align-none"></p>)
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South Carolina beats North Carolina A&T 91-72 in season opener behind 14 3-pointers
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Meechie Johnson scored 14 points and South Carolina made 14 3-pointers to help cruise past North Carolina A&T 91-72 on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.
Johnson made a pair of 3s to go with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Nordin Kapic added 13 points and hit three 3-pointers, leading nine Gamecocks who made a least one bucket from long range. Kobe Knox chipped in with 12 points.
The Gamecocks shot 31 of 63 overall (49%) and 14 of 32 (44%) from beyond the arc.
Lureon Walker led Alcorn State with 22 points. Lewis Walker added 16 points and Amadou Doumbia grabbed 10 rebounds for the Braves.
South Carolina has 12 new players on its roster with returners Jordan Butler, Myles Stute and Cam Scott. Johnson, an All-SEC player in 2024 for the Gamecocks, spent last season at Ohio State where he began his college career.
Stute and Butler scored nine points apiece against the Braves.
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