It was a weekend to remember for Zach Edey and family. The Purdue Boilermakers star was back in Toronto to play for the first time since he was a sophomore in high school and the 7-foot-4 big man returned in a big way, leading the Boilermakers in a 92-86 comeback win over Alabama at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum in the opening game of the Hall of Fame Series.

Edey was dominant in the victory, matching his season-high with 35 points to go with seven rebounds as he calmly sank free throws to help secure the victory in front of a large crowd that included many friends and family all wearing matching t-shirts in Purdue yellow bearing “Welcome to Zach’s House” across the front.

“It’s amazing to be back,” Edey said. “They really came out, they showed love, they really supported [us]. Every time we needed a pick-me up, the crowd was there for us. Every time we got a little run [going], the crowd was definitely there for us. It was amazing.”

After a red-hot start from Alabama that included the first eight points, as well as eight three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the game, Edey’s 18 first-half points helped Purdue pull within a basket, 49-47 at the break. Alabama scored the first six points of the second half and led by nine with 15:42 remaining, but Purdue wasn’t rattled. After a layup from Mark Sears gave Alabama a 60-53 advantage with 14:10 remaining, a slam from Edey ignited a 12-0 run for the Boilermakers as they went from seven down to leading by five, 65-60, with 10:55 remaining.

As the teams traded baskets over the final 10 minutes, a three from Sears allowed Alabama to regain a 76-75 advantage with 4:49 remaining, but Edey responded with back-to-back buckets as well as a free throw to complete a three-point play, giving Purdue a four-point advantage with less than four minutes remaining.

When Sears connected on another three, Edey hit another pair of free throws to keep Purdue in front before teammate Braden Smith scored on a layup to extend the advantage to five points. After a three-point play from Alabama’s Mohamed Wague, it was Edey who sank another two free throws to give Purdue a five-point advantage that Alabama couldn’t make up over the final minute.

The comeback victory moved Purdue to 9-1 on the season as Edey’s season-high also moved him into Purdue’s top 10 on the program’s all-time scoring list.

“Being able to say I'm top 10 in Purdue scoring is kind of a surreal thing,” Edey said. “Seeing the names in that list, all-time Purdue greats, to be able to be up there with them is an honour.”

Getting to accomplish such a feat at home only made it that much more special.

“It was really cool,” Edey said. “A lot of my friends and family haven’t seen my play [in person], period. To have a lot of people come out and support me, to show them the progress I’ve made, I’m very grateful Purdue scheduled this one.”

Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter was thrilled that his senior star was able to show out in Toronto.

“He’s a cornerstone of our program,” Painter said. “When you’re the National Player of the Year and then you come back and you put up better numbers and you make improvements…He’s been great. His work ethic from day one has been great. He enjoys basketball, he’s competitive. He’s got a fight to him and he wants to win. Being able to schedule this game and get him back here was great. We should do this, you know, for everything he’s done for us.”

Edey spent this past August and September with the Senior Men’s National Team, earning the program’s first-ever bronze medal at the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023.

“I think [spending time with Canada Basketball] helps me every year,” Edey said. “You can see the jumps I’ve made every summer. Team Canada is a big part of that. I’ve done that every year since my freshman year. It’s really helped out, just playing in the summer, then with the Olympic team, playing with grown men, they’re really fast, they’re physical, they’ve been playing the game forever. Trying to learn from them and watch how they do things, it really helps me.”

Whether suiting up for the Boilermakers or Canada, Edey has always left it all on the court. On Saturday afternoon, as he led Purdue to another victory, his friends and family were finally able to voice their appreciation in person, one cheer at a time.