WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue opens its 2026-27 campaign Sunday afternoon with an exhibition against the Ball State Cardinals. There will be plenty for Boilermaker fans to watch, as Purdue enters the season with at least four new starters.
Purdue Boilermakers on SI will have live coverage of today's exhibition game from Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Follow along for live updates, news, and analysis throughout the game. You can refresh this page frequently for the latest happenings.
Ball State vs. Purdue live game blog
2nd Half
FINAL – Purdue 87, Ball State 55. Considering the Boilermakers replaced four starters, it's hard not to be encouraged by this performance. Purdue didn't appear to miss a beat, showing plenty of scoring potential and depth. Sure, it's only an exhibition against Ball State, but this is an encouraging start for the Boilermakers.
4:00 – Purdue can put points on the board in a hurry. The Boilermakers are shooting 46% from three-point range and have built a 34-point lead, their largest of the game.
7:41 – Purdue has exploded for a 15-2 run over the last three minutes. The three-point shooting continues to impress, with CJ Cox knocking down a couple of big-time shots to force a Ball State timeout. Purdue 74, Ball State 46.
9:15 – Purdue is simply better with Harris on the floor, point-blank period. He's up to 16 points, and the Boilermakers have responded with a 7-0 run since he reentered the game.
11:59 – Shahrvin looks confused after being called for basket interference on a put-back dunk. The rule is different compared to what he's used to in France. A funny moment, but Purdue's offense has stalled, missing their last five.
13:27 – Ertel and Mayer are on the floor at the same time, but the results haven't been great. The ball movement has been lacking as Purdue's scoring drought surpasses 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
16:22 – He hasn't been perfect, but Jacobsen is seemingly improved even from when we last saw him in Canada. The turnovers have been slightly concerning, but the effort is much better. He has six rebounds and even hit a three.
1st Half
HALF – It's just an exhibition, but it's pretty clear this team is going to live and die by threes this season. Purdue shot 36 shots in the first half, with 25 of them coming from three-point range. The good news is that everyone on this squad can make them.
HALF – Purdue 49, Ball State 33. The lack of separation discussed throughout the off-season was on display throughout the first half. You'll be hard-pressed to find a bench duo better than West-Ertel. The Cardinals are actually shooting it better from the field, but Purdue has dominated the boards 25-12.
3:31 – Gicarri Harris is continuing the effort he showed in Canada, scoring 11 first-half points to this point. He looks like Purdue's best offensive weapon right now and is shooting it 3-4 from 3-point range. Harris is the first Boilermaker to double-digits as they lead 45-28.
8:22 – It feels like Purdue will end up getting their money's worth with Enzo Shahrvin. He's the eleventh Boilermaker to see the floor but immediately sends a shot off the glass. He has an assist and offensive board in his first three minutes in the black and gold as well.
11:17 – Jacob Webber comes in as Purdue's 10th man and immediately makes his presence known. The freshman is 2-3 from the field with 5 points in just three minutes. Antione West and Luke Ertel have made shots as well as the Boilers push the lead up to 24-12.
15:06 – There should be little doubt that this team is going to shoot a ton of three-pointers. It's been over half of Purdue's shot selection to this point. All three of the Boilermakers' starting guards have hit one to this point, as Purdue is 3-5 from three-point range and leading 12-7 at the first media timeout.
17:15 – Purdue's biggest preseason concern has been an advantage to this point. Three offensive boards so far, including two from Daniel Jacobsen, as the Boilers are winning the glass 5-0.
Starting lineups
- Ball State – #0 Sean Blake (G), #1 Trey Lewis (G), #5 K'Jei Parker (G), #24 Mason Jones (F), #7 Jaden Smith (C).
- Purdue – #0 CJ Cox (G), #17 Omer Mayer (G), #24 Gicarri Harris (G), #8 Caden Pierce (F), #12 Daniel Jacobsen (C).
Tipoff between Ball State and Purdue is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. The game will air on BTN+.
What I'm watching for
- How well does the frontcourt operate with new faces in new roles?
- Is Antione West truly the star of this team?
- Do the freshmen look capable of cracking the rotation?
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Today's best reads
- Final Purdue Basketball Starting Lineup, Rotation Projection Before 2026-27 Season
- 5 Thoughts From Purdue's Dominant 87-55 Exhibition Victory Over Ball State
- How to Watch Purdue Basketball's First Exhibition Game vs. Ball State
- Purdue Basketball More Invested, Focused on Success on the Defensive End
- What to Watch in Purdue Basketball's First Exhibition Game vs. Ball State
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/purdue as Live Game Thread & Updates for Ball State vs. Purdue.