The Gophers missed opportunities to end the game with their first conference win, leaving them still the only winless team in Big Ten play.

Johnson tries to look at the Purdue game as three-fourths full. With an Isaac Asuma 3-pointer, Minnesota trialed 47-43 with 11 minutes left at The Barn, but the Boilermakers’ outstanding guards Braden Smith ad Fletcher Loyer stepped on Minnesota’s throat, while the Gophers were half-stepping.