Purdue falls to Lithuania in World University Games final
Analysis ($): Purdue-Lithuania
Purdue will come home from Taipei with silver.
The Boilermakers fell in the World University Games final 85-74 to Lithuania to finish as the event's runner-up.
Carsen Edwards scored 23 points, Isaac Haas 17 and Vincent Edwards 16 for Purdue, but the Boilermakers lost this game on the glass, being outrebounded 42-32 and giving up incalculable ground on the offensive boards in particular.
"When we didn't get the rebound, they got second-chance points and they made us pay for it," forward Vincent Edwards told local reporters. "Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way.
"We had guys who normally make shots and the shots didn't fall but you have to refer back to the defensive end. We didn't get the stops we need and when we made them take tough shots, they ended up getting some rebounds, and I'll partially take blame for that. It's a sickening feeling right now."
Lithuania collected 17 offensive rebounds and turned them into countless points - and missed opportunities for Purdue - in claiming the gold.
Purdue led by seven late in the first half and seemed in position to build a cushion, but Lithuania scored the final five of the half to hit the locker room down just two.
"I thought we should have been in a better position at halftime to start with," Coach Matt Painter said afterward. "… I thought we should have been up six or eight points and been in a little bit better a position."
Lithuania outscored Team USA 25-18 in the third quarter, building a cushion of its own.
"In the second half, they were quicker to the ball, tougher than us," Painter said. "They beat us so bad on the boards they got more opportunities, more cracks at it. You have to tip your hat to Lithuania. They played really, really hard and their rebounding was the difference in the game."
Purdue was only 5-of-18 from three-point range after thriving from long distance in several games prior.
"That was big for us," Painter said. "We really never got on track from three."
Purdue went 7-1 in the World University Games, plus an exhibition win over Norway and two exhibitions win over Canada in the U.S., a pair of close games.
"It's a blessing to be able to have this opportunity," Carsen Edwards told local reporters. "I tried to come out and give my all for my country and my school. It was a good experience, a good opportunity for us to kind of gel early before the season starts.
"We could see what we have to work on, now can go back and work on those things and prepare for the season."
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