After dominating performances throughout the tournament, the Purdue Boilermakers were unable to bring home the gold medal at the World University Games.
Appearing at the tournament as the representative for the United States, they left host city Taipei with silver medals.
In the gold medal game, they fell to Lithuania, 85-74.
FINAL:
🇱🇹 85
🇺🇸 74#Purdue claims 🥈 medal.
Heck of an experience. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/SIvVuKDp78— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) August 29, 2017
The tournament will serve as a nice tune-up for a Boilermakers squad that is expected to take a step back this season. After losing leading scorer Caleb Swanigan to the NBA Draft, questions exist as to where the bulk of the offense will come for Purdue.
If the tournament is any indication, Carsen Edwards, Isaac Haas and Vince Edwards will carry the load.
Edwards finished the gold medal game with 23 points, while Haas had 17 and Edwards had 16.
The loss to Lithuania isn’t as devastating as it might appear. The small country is one of the best at basketball in all of Europe and is regularly a juggernaut in international competition. Considering that they United States sends one collegiate basketball team to compete on the international stage speaks volumes.
Purdue should be in midseason form by the time the season tips off.
Highlights from the gold medal game can be seen below:
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS from today’s gold-medal game against Lithuania. #BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/C4iTaebnge
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) August 29, 2017
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