The Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team used its biggest offensive performance of the season to propel the Peregrines to a 82-59 nonleague win over visiting Great Lakes Christian Saturday at the Fitness and Recreation Center.
The Peregrines (2-4) snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory, which featured four players in double figures and saw 11 players record at least eight minutes.
Senior Kaspars Brencans (Riga, Latvia/Florida Air Academy) led the way with 21 points in just 16 minutes, shooting 10 of 14 from the floor. Junior Ryan Rader (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) added 16 points and 10 rebounds and senior Aaron Davis (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds, eight steals and six assists.
Senior Noah Allen (Flora, Ind./Carroll) added 11 points, seven assists and three steals for the Peregrines, who led 44-30 at the break.
Purdue Calumet opened the game on a 12-4 run, fueled by balanced scoring from Brencans, Rader, Davis, and Danny Pachen (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central) and six Lakes’ (0-13) turnovers. The Peregrines would push the lead to 12 (20-8) midway through the half, before GLCC responded with several shots from outside, including two triple from Dana Thomas.
With the Peregrines leading by just nine, 36-27, with 3:26 to play before the break, Purdue Calumet would use a 8-3 run to close the half to take a 14-point lead into the second frame.
A Brencans dunk with just 30 seconds off the clock in the second half kickstarted what would become a 10-2 run, as the Peregrines forced four turnovers and capitalized with three layups, two off the fast break. For the game, Purdue Calumet outscored GLCC 12-6 in fast break points and held a commanding 58-14 advantage in the paint.
The Lakes didn’t get closer than 18 the rest of the way, as Purdue Calumet finished 54.7 percent (35 for 64) from the floor compared to 40 percent (20 of 50) for GLCC. The much-taller Peregrines also dominated the glass, 53-20.
Junior Andis Malahovskis (Cesis, Latvia/Cesis City) pulled down 10 boards to go along with seven points and Paschen added eight rebounds, seven points and two blocks.
Purdue Calumet returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 25, when the Peregrines host Division III member Olivet College (Mich.) in a 7 p.m. matchup at the Fitness and Recreation Center.
