Purdue beats Nebraska, nabs sixth win in seven games
By JAMES HOWELL, Jr.
ISL Purdue Writer
The Boilermakers are on top of their game right now.
On Sunday evening, the Boilermakers claimed victory for the sixth time in seven games by downing the Nebraska Cornhuskers 66-54. The win puts Purdue back into a tie for second place in the Big Ten with the No. 19 Maryland Terrapins.
After a mediocre start to the game, one in which the Boilermakers fell behind 8-3, the Boilermakers began to settle in. Before the end of the first half, Purdue gained the lead and didn’t look back.
With a 26-20 advantage at the break, the Boilermakers allowed the Cornhuskers to stick around until the 15-minute mark. Starting with 14:54 remaining, the Boilermakers went on a 10-2 run to stretch their lead out to 16 points. From there, it was sticking to taking care of the ball and playing sound defense.
Forward Vince Edwards was hitting some of the best shots of his season en route to 15 points in the game.
“My teammates did a good job at finding me,” he said. “Compliment the big men, because most of the time, they’re getting doubled, and we don’t get that without them.”
Kendall Stephans went 4-for-7 from long range to score 12 points, and freshman Dakota Mathias matched a career high with 10 points.
Purdue center A.J. Hammons controlled the paint throughout the game. He scored just seven points but pulled down 12 rebounds. The leading rebounder for the Cornhuskers was Terran Petteway with just five.
As Purdue continues to try to climb from the hole it created early in the season with losses to Gardner-Webb and North Florida, the Boilermakers will turn their attention back to their biggest rival. On Thursday evening, the Boilermakers will travel to Bloomington to battle once again with the Indiana Hoosiers.
Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday.
