TUSCALOOSA, AL — Purdue basketball’s Braden Smith wasn’t about to give an opposing student section credit for motivating him.
Yet the Boilermaker point guard also could not deny his interaction with the hard hat-clad Alabama student section at Coleman Coliseum on Thursday. It came up more than once as Smith took over in the second half of an 87-80 victory.
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When Smith hit a go-ahead 3 midway through the second half — one of 21 lead changes in a back-and-forth battle — he stared down that section of the stands. When he turned a deflection into the backcourt into a tiebreaking layup while leaning into Taylor Bol Bowen with 1:18 to play, he flexed and yelled “and one!”
The officials were not persuaded by his exuberance. However, that basket put Purdue ahead for good.
Smith scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half. His mid-range stopped falling, but he made 3 of 6 from 3-point range after half and 5 of 10 for the game. He also went 10 for 10 at the free throw line in the final half.
“I mean, there’s an energy, but I’m not giving anybody anything,” Smith said. “They did nothing. I think it’s just more that’s how I play with that chip on my shoulder and that competitive fight that I’m always gonna have.
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“Obviously some games it’s not there as much as it was tonight or any other given night, but that’s what I always try to do. Every night I go and find some way to have that competitive edge and that chip on my shoulder to go compete.”
In three career games against Alabama, Smith averaged 24.3 points, shot 42.8% from 3-point range and compiled a 22-5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Alabama coach Nate Oats lamented after the game that Smith grabbed seven rebounds while his entire starting frontcourt managed six.
“Braden obviously carried it for us in the second half,” coach Matt Painter said.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Braden Smith competitive edge vs Alabama, student section stare down
