Associated Press
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ó As the final seconds ticked away in Purdue’s victory over Wake Forest, the student section chanted “Big Ten basketball” with pride.
Purdue had lost six of nine games in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but the Boilermakers used toughness and tenacious defense to overcome poor shooting in a 69-58 win Tuesday night.
E’Twaun Moore scored 22 points, JaJuan Johnson had 21 points and nine rebounds and Robbie Hummel added 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 4 Purdue. The trio of third-year stars had lost to Clemson in the challenge two years ago, then suffered an embarrassing 76-60 loss to Duke at home last year.
“This junior class had never won an ACC challenge, so this was a big game for us,” Hummel said. “We were very motivated.”
The students’ chant was especially relevant because the Big Ten’s top teams took a beating against unranked squads last week. Michigan lost to Marquette and Alabama, Michigan State lost to Florida, Illinois lost to Utah and Bradley, and Minnesota lost to Portland and Texas A&M.
The Boilermakers (6-0) are still rolling. Purdue is the only unbeaten left in the league, and the Boilermakers are enjoying their highest AP ranking since 1996.
C.J. Harris and Ishmael Smith each scored 14 points and freshman Al-Farouq Aminu added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Wake Forest (4-2). Aminu entered the game averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Purdue forced 25 turnovers and held the Demon Deacons to below 30 percent shooting for most of the second half. The Boilermakers shot 34 percent, but made 24 of 31 free throws and committed just nine turnovers.
Wake Forest, coming off a 78-68 home loss to William and Mary, made 10 of 19 free throws and shot 42 percent overall. The Demon Deacons led 31-29 at halftime but were outscored 40-27 after that.
“The turnovers in the second half was the difference in the game,” Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio said. “I think our kids fought hard, I just wish we would have done a little better from the free-throw line. That would have given us a little push.”
It was the second consecutive lockdown defensive effort for Purdue. The Boilermakers held Central Michigan to 28 percent shooting in a 64-38 win on Saturday.
Purdue and Wake Forest combined to make just 24 of 66 shots in the first half. Wake Forest led by two points at halftime, and would have led by more if not for 3-of-10 free throw shooting. Neither team led by more than four points in the first 20 minutes. Purdue missed all nine of its 3-pointers in the first half.
Purdue shot poorly again early in the second half, but the Boilermakers were aggressive and forced Wake Forest into foul trouble. Two free throws by freshman Kelsey Barlow gave Purdue a 37-36 lead, then Chris Kramer got a steal and found Hummel streaking to the basket. Hummel made a layup and was fouled, and he converted the three-point play to give the Boilermakers a 40-36 lead.
Purdue capped the 12-0 run with a layup by Moore to take a 42-36 lead. The Boilermakers held the Demon Deacons scoreless for nearly 5 minutes during that stretch.
Maryland 80, Indiana 68
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ó Maryland finally figured out how to put away Indiana on Tuesday.With a strong closing flurry.
Greivis Vasquez scored 23 points and Landon Milbourne had 19 points, leading the Terrapins to an 80-68 victory in their first trip to Indiana and giving the ACC its first win in this year’s Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Maryland (5-2) ended a two-game losing streak.
The Hoosiers (3-4), who have lost four of their last five, were led by freshmen Maurice Creek with 19 points and Christian Watford, who had 16 points. The loss prevented coach Tom Crean from picking up career win No. 200 in his first attempt.
Virginia Tech 70, Iowa 64
IOWA CITY, Iowa ó Malcolm Delaney scored 18 points, Terrell Bell added 13 and Virginia Tech held on to beat host Iowa 70-64 Tuesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
The Hokies (5-1) committed just five turnovers and finished a four-game road swing with three wins.
Iowa cut Virginia Tech’s lead to 63-59 with just under two minutes left. But Dorenzo Hudson nailed a long 3 with 1:33 left and the shot clock set to expire.