Purdue bigs too much for New Mexico in 70-58 win
By KEITH CARRELL
ISL Correspondent
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. _ Isaac Haas and A.J. Hammons combined for 37 points and 17 rebounds, and Purdue grinded out a 70-58 win against an aggressive New Mexico team.
New Mexico is one of the few teams that matches up with Purdue’s height, but the Boilermakers were able to win the back-and-forth tilt with grit, depth, rebounding, and free-throw shooting.
Purdue coach Matt Painter preaches that that the team needs to “keep it simple,” a theme repeated by players and coaches in nearly every post-game press conference this season. Ultimately, Purdue was able to simplify the game and pulled out a victory by returning to the basics. Purdue outrebounded the Lobos 51-28 (including a 17-3 differential on the offensive glass), outscored the Lobos from the free throw line, and showed their depth with 32 more bench points than New Mexico (38-6).
Here are the highlights, courtesy of Purdue Athletics:
Check out the highlights from today’s 70-58 win over New Mexico. #RememberTheName https://t.co/U9BwGIWL1m
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) December 5, 2015
Earlier this week, the Big Ten won the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge (where Purdue won at Pitt), illustrating the depth and strength of the Big Ten and the tough road that Purdue has ahead in its quest for a 23rd Big Ten championship. New Mexico’s aggressive, physical play was the perfect non-conference primer for Purdue to prepare for the Big Ten season.
The Lobos featured size and a couple of quick scoring guards in Cullen Neal and Elijah Brown which gave Purdue fits, especially off of screens and off the dribble. Johnny Hill said that Purdue “knew (Neal and Brown) were big time scorers.”
Even with the scouting reports warning about the potential of the guards, Neal and Brown combined to score 37 points. Neal lit Purdue up in the first half by using screens to get the basket and kept the defense on their toes with a couple of pull-up jumpers. Purdue did a much better job of defending him in the second half, but that extra attention allowed Brown to get going.
Hill had perhaps his best game in a Purdue uniform as he helped to lessen the impact of Neal and Brown with ball pressure, netted three steals, and ensured that Purdue’s centers were getting touches. Painter said the Boilermakers were “fortunate Johnny Hill came in and gave us a spark. He was a happy warrior.”
The physical play and interior presence of Haas and Hammons allowed Purdue to get into the bonus early each half and forced both Sam Logwood and Obij Aget to foul out. The Boilers (21-28) outscored the Lobos (11-17) by ten points at the charity stripe.
At times, though, the Purdue guards seemed to forget that they have a couple of power houses down low. “The thing that I didn’t like in the one stretch in the first half is that we went about four or five possessions where the ball didn’t go inside at all; those guys have to touch the basketball,” Painter said.
Quick Hits: New Mexico has some Indiana ties with starter Sam Logwood playing his High School ball at La Lumiere High School. Elijah Brown played one season at Butler University prior to transferring in 2014… Purdue’s win over Pitt Tuesday was their seventh consecutive win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the longest active streak in the challenge… Purdue struggled from long range, connecting on only three of their 21 attempts (14.3%)… Purdue had a bad shooting day all around only making 37.1% of their shots and only three Boilers (Haas, Hill, and Hammons) made at least half of their shots… Hammons had his second consecutive double-double… The game featured five ties and five lead changes prior to Purdue pulling away late in the game. Purdue was without senior leader Rapheal Davis for the third consecutive game.
Here are the postgame interviews, from Purdue Athletics:
Hill, Hammons, Haas and Coach Painter talk to the media following the 70-58 win over New Mexico. #RememberTheName https://t.co/6urXJ5Nitw
— Purdue Basketball (@BoilerBall) December 5, 2015
