Boilermakers fall to Bucknell in regular season opener 70-65

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - For the first time under the direction of head coach Matt Painter the Purdue men's basketball team will begin a season 0-1. Cameron Ayers scored 18 points to help Bucknell beat Purdue 70-65 on Friday night.

The Boilermakers started the game on a bad note as junior Terone Johnson was unable to play due to an ankle injury he suffered on Tuesday. Johnson was Purdue's top scorer during exhibition play and the team's best perimeter defender coming into this season.

"It hurt a lot," Purdue guard Anthony Johnson said. "That's another guard that can score the ball and create for others. That's at least 15 points right there."

Even without the junior guard the Boilermakers got off to a great start. Purdue put 15 points on the board before the under 16 minute TV timeout in the first half. The Boilermakers would then increase their lead to 27-20 and take a 33-27 lead into the break.

The second half was a different story. The Boilermakers lost control of the game with bad shots and turnovers, as Bucknell took the lead 36-35 with 16:21 to play. From that moment the Boilermakers were in a back and forth battle until Bucknell's Bryson Johnson hit a three point field goal from the corner with 4:12 to play to give the Bison a 61-57 lead.

With :09 seconds remaining in the game, D.J. Byrd would get a good look at a three point field goal but he would draw front Iron as Bucknell escaped with the victory.

"Coach drew up a play that obviously worked and got me an open shot," said D.J. Byrd. "I wish it would have went in. It would have made me feel a whole lot better."

With five freshman logging a lot of minutes for the Boilermakers, it may take time before the Boilermakers learn how to play as a team.

"We had a couple situations where adversity kind of set in with us where we compounded our mistakes," said head coach Matt Painter.

Purdue will return to action on Sunday at Mackey Arena as they host Hofstra with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m.