Zach Edey's 30-20 game helps Purdue crush Grambling State

The win no doubt comes as a relief to a fanbase still reeling from last year's first-round loss to Fairleigh Dickinson, which was only the second time in NCAA Tournament history that a No. 16 seed has toppled a No. 1 seed.

Led this time around by a 30-point effort from Zach Edey, the Boilermakers comfortably beat down the Tigers, who were likely tired after an overtime First Four victory on Wednesday night. Edey's big night was especially appreciated in a game where no other Boilermakers scored more than 11 points. And Purdue only got 11 total points from their bench. 

At the other end of the court, however, Purdue's stifling defense held Grambling State to 50 points on just 36.4 percent shooting. The Tigers only went 3 of 12 from beyond the arc, failing to keep pace despite a standout effort from senior guard Tra'Michael Moton, who led the team in scoring with 21 points. Junior guard Kintavious Dozier added 16 points for Grambling State, but it wasn't near enough to combat the herculean effort of Edey. 

Predictably, Grambling State lost the rebound battle 48-23 with Edey grabbing 21 boards and blocking three shots to go along with his 30 points. 

Purdue will take on the winner of TCU-Utah State on Sunday, looking to advance to the Sweet 16 and get revenge for their short-lived 2023 NCAA Tournament run.