Davis scores 24 as Purdue downs No. 25 Iowa
By JAMES HOWELL, Jr.
ISL Purdue Writer
Saturday’s home game against the Iowa Hawkeyes was not necessarily a must win for the Purdue Boilermakers. However, with the events that occurred throughout the game, it quickly became a “you’d better win” kind of game.
Win is what the Boilermakers did, by defeating the No. 25 Hawkeyes 67-63. Led by a career high 24 points from senior Rapheal Davis and an 11-point performance from sophomore Basil Smotherman, Purdue was able to hang on.
Coming into the game, it appeared that the Hawkeyes had the better team. The Associated Press certainly believed so when they ranked them this week. However, the Hawkeyes ran into some trouble in the game. Starting big man Adam Woodbury found himself in foul trouble early and team leader Aaron White was sidelined with an apparent shoulder injury.
In a Big Ten game at home, the Boilermakers had no choice but to win.
After falling behind 10-2 in the beginning moments of the game, the Boilermakers found themselves with a 32-14 run to finish the first half.
The Boilermakers seemed to be rolling until offensive rebounds for the Hawkeyes started to mount and guard Mike Gesell went on a monster 12-0 run for the Hawkeyes. Suddenly with 1:06 left in the game, the Boilermakers were behind.
Needing something, the Boilermakers turned to senior leader Rapheal Davis, and he delivered. With under one minute left in the game, Davis pulled up for a 3-pointer and knocked it down.
“Once I caught it, I knew it was going in,” Davis said. “I just had that kind of confidence in that shot.”
Known for his struggles from long range throughout his playing career, Davis has found a rhythm there. Before the Boilermakers game at Illinois this past week, he had only hit two 3-pointers this season. Since the Illinois game, Davis has hit five, including the shot that would win them the game against Iowa.
Despite winning the game, it is easy to still be critical of the Boilermakers play. As a team the Boilermakers were outrebounded by 15. On the offensive glass, the Hawkeyes pulled down 24 against the usually strong rebounding Boilermakers. Gabriel Olaseni alone was able to come into the game and pull down 16 rebounds, including 11 offensive.
Coach Matt Painter discussed the team’s struggles with hustling and rebounding following the game.
“I think we played really good until the shot went up,” Painter said. “I told them that at halftime. I think Olaseni’s effort kept them in the game.”
Up next is the game that all fans of college basketball in Indiana have had circled on their schedule since the release. On Wednesday, night the Boilermakers will host the Indiana Hoosiers. That game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip at Mackey Arena.
