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Grambling State’s first trip to the NCAA tournament ended early thanks to reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey.
Edey led Purdue with 30 points as the No. 1 Boilermakers defeated No. 16 Grambling in a 78-50 victory.
The Purdue big man is the first player to record 30 points and 20 assists in an NCAA tournament game since Joe Smith achieved the feat for Maryland in 1995.
FOX College Hoops @CBBonFOX
HISTORY MADE! π€©<br><br>Zach Edey is the first player in NCAA history to reach these marks in one season.<a href=”https://twitter.com/zach_edey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@zach_edey</a> x <a href=”https://twitter.com/BoilerBall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@BoilerBall</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Pqv8dPJo1Y”>pic.twitter.com/Pqv8dPJo1Y</a>
The Purdue center recorded a season-high 21 rebounds in a performance college basketball fans described as “dominant.”
Edey, who clocks in at 7-foot-4, looked every inch the tallest player in the NCAA tournament as he blocked three shots and forced two takeaways against Grambling.
As Purdue climbed out to a comfortable 20-point lead late in Friday night’s game, fans began to shake off the worry that the Boilermakers would repeat last tournament’s historic upset.
In 2023, No. 1 Purdue was upset by No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson in the first round, becoming the second men’s team to ever lose to a 16-seed.
Although the outcomes were very different in 2023 and 2024, Edey has dominated for Purdue in the first round of both tournaments.
Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello
Via <a href=”https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ESPNStatsInfo</a>: Zach Edey is the first player with consecutive 20-point, 15-rebound games in the NCAA tournament since Antonio McDyess did it for Alabama in 1995. Edey had 21 and 15 in the loss to Fairleigh Dickinson last season, he has 30 and 21 tonight.
With the ghost of the first-round upset vanquished, Purdue is set to face the winner between No. 8 Utah State and No. 9 TCU this weekend. The Horned Frogs and Aggies tip off Friday at 10:25 p.m. ET.
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