In the heart of Milwaukee, a remarkable streak that had endured for nearly four years came to a halt on Tuesday night. Purdue basketball, known for its offensive prowess with an average of 85.3 points per game entering Fiserv Forum, saw its consecutive regular season nonconference victory run finally come to an end. The No. 14 Marquette defense played a pivotal role in this outcome.

Purdue's Streak Shattered as Marquette Prevails

Purdue's Offensive Struggles Against Marquette Defense

The Boilermakers, led by senior guard Kam Jones' all-around game, found themselves facing a stern test from Marquette's defense. Despite Jones' efforts with seven rebounds and six assists in the first half, making just one field goal in that period, Marquette's defensive intensity held Purdue in check. The Golden Eagles' defense locked down Purdue's typically high-scoring offense, leading to a 76 - 58 victory. This loss serves as a stark reminder of the areas where Purdue needs to improve.

Purdue's nonconference regular season win streak, which began in December 2020 and reached an impressive 39 games, was brought to an end. The Boilermakers had two crucial chances to make a comeback while trailing by five midway through the second half. However, David Joplin's steal took away one of those opportunities, and on the subsequent possession, C.J. Cox missed a midrange jumper. Stevie Mitchell then made four free throws over the next 23 seconds, pushing Marquette's lead back up by nine. With Marquette's dominant defense, making up such a margin in just 10 minutes seemed nearly impossible.

After a promising start to the season with double-digit turnovers in three consecutive games, Purdue thought it had turned a corner last Friday with only three turnovers in their win over Alabama. But against Marquette's defense, the passing lanes that had been a staple suddenly disappeared, and the floor spacing Purdue typically relies on was taken away. By halftime, the Boilermakers already had nine turnovers, resulting in 10 Marquette points. Matt Painter has repeatedly emphasized that for Purdue to be a good team, they need to keep turnovers in single digits.

Marquette's Star Performers and Their Impact

Kam Jones, Marquette: Purdue's defense was determined to limit Jones, who came into the game averaging 24 points per game. Despite making just one first half field goal, Jones still managed an impressive 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, achieving the first Marquette triple-double since Dwyane Wade. His all-around game was a key factor in Marquette's victory.Fletcher Loyer, Purdue: Loyer has now scored in double figures in five straight games, matching the longest streak of his career. As a freshman in January 2023, he had similar streaks over five consecutive Big Ten games. In this game, his final stat line wasn't as solid as his previous four games, but he hit some crucial shots early when Purdue was struggling for offense, finishing with 13 points.Stevie Mitchell, Marquette: It wasn't just Mitchell's game-high 21 points that earned him a spot here. He also matched teammate Chase Ross with a game-high four steals, demonstrating his defensive prowess and impact on the game.Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.