Purdue's back was to the wall Sunday afternoon in West Lafayette. Having dropped their first two Big Ten games, the Boilermakers faced 3-0 Wisconsin. Matt Painter's team played like a desperate team, using stifling defensive play to keep the Badgers at bay all afternoon. The Boilers would end up winning 65-52, getting 20 points and 10 rebounds from JaJuan Johnson and 16 more from Robbie Hummell.
Wisconsin lacked its customary edge at the free throw line, as Purdue would outscore them at the stripe 13-4, and rebounding went the home team's way 32-24. This is now the third straight time the Boilers have beaten the Badgers. UW has not lost any other Big Ten games is the last season-plus.
In other action...
Michigan 64 Iowa 49
For the second straight game, turnovers bedeviled the Hawkeyes, as they committed 18 miscues in Ann Arbor. Manny Harris' 18 points and 8 rebounds were more than enough to lead Michigan to a 3-1 conference record. This is also the second straight time Iowa has failed to break 50 points.
Minnesota 79 Penn State 59
The Gophers absolutely shot the lights out. Minny hit 62 percent from the floor, including 9 of 9 from three-point range. They won the battle of the benches, with Devron Bostick and Paul Carter combining for 33 points off the pine. Talor Battle was the bright spot for PSU, as he looks ready to join Kalin Lucas from Michigan State in the fight to be the conference's top guard. Battle gave 19 points and 9 rebounds, but lacked the usual support from running mate Stanley Pringle and inside man Jamelle Cornely.
Illinois 76 Indiana 45
How do you win the rebounding battle 31-22 on your home floor and still lose by over thirty points? Indiana managed by committing nineteen turnovers and being destroyed from three-point range. Illinois was 13-25 from treyland, while IU was a measly 2-6. Trent Meacham's 21 points led the way for the Illini.
We had a little nonconference interlude into the opening of the Big Ten schedule. Michigan State hosted Kansas. While the defending national champs aren't what they were last year, it was still impressive that the Spartans took them apart 75-62. Kalin Lucas scored 22, and Tom Izzo's club showed decisive margins in rebounding and at the line.
Player Of The Sequence: JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
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