Purdue takes down Nebraska 70-64
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A.J. Hammons scored 18 points to lead the Purdue to a 70-64 win over Nebraska on Sunday.
Ronnie Johnson added 14 points for the Boilermakers (11-5, 1-2 Big Ten), who picked up their first league win. Purdue made 24 of 52 shots, including 5 of 13 shots from behind the arc.
Terran Petteway had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Ray Gallegos, Deverell Biggs each scored 10 points to lead the Huskers (8-8, 0-4), who have lost five straight.
Ronnie Johnson scored a basket and two free throws to give Purdue the lead with 5:44 remaining. Later, Hammons scored close to the basket to make it 61-58. Carter scored a layup to make it 63-58 with 2:17 left to play.
Hammons put the game out of reach by making two free throws with 42 seconds remaining.
Purdue never could find a way to take a big lead.
Purdue went on a 6-1 run early in the second half after baskets by Rapheal Davis, Ronnie Johnson and Jay Simpson to make it 44-38 with 16:22 remaining.
It didn’t last long. The Huskers answered with an 8-4 run of their own. Shields, Petteway, and Leslee Smith all scored on layups and Biggs scored after Benny Parker grabbed a steal to make it 48-46 with 12:25 left.
Petteway was fouled on a shot, converted the three-point play, then Biggs grabbed a steal and scored two free throws to give the Huskers a 51-50 lead with 10:16 remaining.
The Huskers took a 57-55 lead when Webster grabbed a steal and scored on a layup with 7:14 left.
Purdue took the lead for good at the 5:45 mark as it held Nebraska to only two field goals in the final seven minutes.
The first half was close throughout too.
Hammons scored on a putback with 8:04 left in the first half to give Purdue a 20-15 lead — its biggest lead of the first half. But then Smith dunked, grabbed a seal, and Parker scored two free throws to put the Huskers within a point.
Stephens hit a 3-pointer with 1:06 left in the half and Purdue led 35-32 at halftime.