GAME NOTES: The Purdue Boilermakers will face their first true road test of the season as they invade Memorial Gymnasium for a non-conference tilt against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Matt Painter's Boilermakers notched their second consecutive win on Wednesday with an 87-46 rout of Arkansas State. The victory improved Purdue to an 8-2 overall record, which includes six decisions by 20 points or more. The Boilermakers are averaging 77.3 ppg, while allowing just 58.4 ppg on 36.8 percent efficiency from the floor.

Purdue connected on 65.6 percent of its shots from the floor and knocked down 8-of-10 tries from behind the 3-point line versus ASU. Sophomore swingman Kendall Stephens netted 18 points with six makes from beyond the arc to improve his team-leading scoring average to 12.4 ppg. The Boilermakers have received a huge boost to their front line via the immediate impact of 7-foot-2 freshman Isaac Haas, who is posting 11.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg in just over 18 minutes per outing. Senior center A.J. Hammons (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is also a low-post threat and anchors the defense with three blocks per tilt. Painter has mixed up the starting lineup quite often, but rookie forward Vince Edwards (10.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg) has started every contest and clocks a team-high 26.9 minutes per game.

The Commodores will be looking to bounce back from the 66-63 home loss were handed by Baylor on Dec. 4. Vanderbilt defeated the first four visitors to Memorial Gym by double-digit margins before coming up short against the Bears. Coach Kevin Stallings's squad is posting 70.3 ppg on an SEC-best 49.3 percent shooting from the floor.

Sophomore big man Damian Jones has been impressive for Vanderbilt thus far in his second campaign, ranking in the top five in the conference in both scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg) through six games. Jones paced the Commodores in the loss to Baylor with 21 points and nine boards, while sophomore center Luke Kornet tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. The seven-foot Kornet is contributing 12.4 ppg and is not shy from 3- point range as he attempts 3.7 shots from distance per outing. Freshman point guard Wade Baldwin IV has played a huge role for Vandy with 8.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg, to go along with the third-highest assist average (5.6 apg) in the SEC.

This will be just the fifth meeting in history between these schools on the hardwood and the first since the 1965-66 season. The series is tied heading into this matchup.

Vandy is the only team in the SEC to start three freshmen in its backcourt. Although they are young, the Commodores have enough raw talent to pull off some upsets this season. They gave a very athletic Baylor squad a fight for 40 minutes. The same effort could be enough for a win over the Boilermakers.