WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a showcase of overwhelming interior dominance and efficient offense, the Purdue Boilermakers remained undefeated Sunday by dispatching the Akron Zips 97 to 79 in a non-conference men’s basketball game at a sold-out Mackey Arena.

A crowd of 14,876 watched as the Boilermakers improved to 4-0 on the young season, while the Zips suffered their first loss, falling to 3-1.

The game was decided in the first half, where Purdue built an insurmountable lead. The Boilermakers erupted for 52 points before halftime, taking a 13-point lead into the locker room and never looking back. Their offensive execution was nearly flawless, scoring 97 points on just 71 possessions for a staggering offensive rating of 136.8. Akron, by contrast, managed 79 points from 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 106.6.

Purdue’s victory was anchored by a commanding performance in the paint, where they outscored Akron 46 to 18. The Boilermakers also dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end, where they hauled in 19 rebounds leading to numerous second-chance opportunities.

Trey Kaufman-Renn was the engine for Purdue, delivering a massive double-double. The 6-foot-9 forward from Sellersburg, Indiana, scored 17 points and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds in 26 minutes of action. His presence inside was felt on both ends of the floor.

He was complemented perfectly by fellow big man Oscar Cluff. The 6-foot-11 native of Sunshine Coast, Australia, also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, further cementing Purdue’s control of the lane.

The Boilermakers’ backcourt was equally effective. Point guard Braden Smith, a Westfield, Indiana product, orchestrated the offense with a double-double of his own, scoring 16 points and dishing out 10 assists. Fletcher Loyer of Fort Wayne, Indiana, provided a scoring punch with 16 points, while Omer Mayer from Tel Aviv, Israel, filled the stat sheet with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.

Defensively, Purdue’s size was a major factor, as they registered six blocked shots. Daniel Jacobsen, a 7-foot-4 freshman from Chicago, was a rim-protecting force, swatting four Akron attempts while also contributing 9 points.

Akron guard Tavari Johnson kept the Zips competitive with a game-high 20 points. The La Grange Park, Illinois native was a bright spot for the visitors, attacking consistently throughout the contest. Evan Mahaffey of Cincinnati, Ohio, added 12 points and 5 rebounds for Akron, while Eric Mahaffey, also from Cincinnati, chipped in 10 points and 4 assists.

The Zips hung around by shooting respectably from beyond the arc, making 13 of 33 three-point attempts. However, they were unable to counter Purdue’s relentless interior attack or slow down the Boilermakers’ efficient shooting; Purdue hit 35 of 67 field goal attempts for the game.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Akron to open the season, which included decisive victories over James Madison, Princeton and Penn St.-Shenango. Purdue, meanwhile, continues its strong start after previous wins over Evansville, Oakland and a significant road victory at Alabama.

Akron will look to rebound on Friday, Nov. 21, when they face Iona in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Purdue’s next contest is on Thursday, Nov. 20, against Memphis in The Bahamas.