Purdue cruises to win over Queens in NCAA Tournament

ST. LOUIS (WISH) — Purdue never trailed, rolling past Queens 104-71 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Braden Smith broke the all-time NCAA assist record in the first half. He finished with 26 points and eight assists.

The record breaker came on a pick-and-roll with senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. Kaufman-Renn set the screen a few feet behind the three-point line at the top of the key.

Smith dribbled to his right before hitting Kaufman-Renn with a smooth one-handed bounce pass at the free throw line. Kaufman-Renn dribbled once, stepped through the defense, and got the lay in to go off the glass, plus the foul.

Purdue started the game by making their first six shots and never looked back. The Boilermakers shot 63% from the floor and 58% from three in the game.

The Boilermakers advance to the second round of the tournament for the third straight year.

Purdue will face the winner of No. 7 seed Miami and No. 10 seed Missouri in the second round on Sunday.