Purdue drops second consecutive Big Ten game
By JAMES HOWELL, Jr.
ISL Purdue Writer
The Purdue Boilermakers have not lacked fight in their first four games of the Big Ten season. After come from behind victories against Minnesota and Michigan, the Boilermakers have dropped consecutive close games _ to No. 4 Wisconsin on Jan. 7 and to No. 9 Maryland on Saturday afternoon.
After a first half in which they fell behind by as many as nine points, the Boilermakers fought back to tie the game at the break against the Terrapins. In the second half, Maryland allowed the Boilermakers to lead for only 18 seconds in the opening moments of the half before jumping out to a lead. The Terrapins pulled ahead to a larger lead with foul shots at the end of the game to win 69-60.
“They’re a good defensive team,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “They’re a physical and aggressive team. They have good athleticism and quickness, and they have good size.”
When pinpointing an area they caused the loss for the Boilermakers, it is easy to point at foul trouble. The Boilermakers committed 25 fouls and had four players finish with four fouls. Those players included centers Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons.
“It really hurt us because our two big guys had some fouls that weren’t position fouls,” Painter said. “When you are protecting the rim or you’re in ball screen defense it is hard for a guy of size. It really is. But when you are out there reaching or trying to lunge through the passing lane, you get those types of fouls, that really hurts you.”
As a team the Boilermakers took plenty more 3-point shots than they have in the past handful of games. Unfortunately, Purdue shot just 5 of 20 from deep.
Junior Jake Layman led the Terrapins with 14 points despite making just 2 of 11 field goals. He hit nine of his 11 of his free throw attempts.
The Boilermakers were fairly balanced offensively. Purdue finished with six players with six of more points. The leading scorer was Kendall Stephens with 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting, including just 2-8 3-point attempts.
Purdue (10-7) now has a full week to prepare for its next game at Penn State (12-4), which is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff.
