Ultimately, Illini fall

CHAMPAIGN -- Michael Jordan showed up at Assembly Hall for the first time this season, squeezing into a bleacher seat near the floor.

Incredulous Illinois coach Bruce Weber nearly spontaneously combusted on the sidelines during Saturday's game, albeit not for the first time this season.

Illinois senior forward Brian Randle became so incensed about the way the game unfolded, he started "cursing and acting a fool" and played like a wild man who wouldn't be denied.

All of these events helped transform Purdue's visit to Illinois into a ferocious and riveting 2½-hour episode of ultimate fighting.

In the end, Purdue freshman guard E'Twaun Moore ruined everyone's hopes in the Hall with a surgical shooting display that was in stark contrast to the game's hack-and-slash nature.

Unveiling every move in his considerable arsenal, Moore delivered 20 of his career-high 24 points over the final 12 minutes to keep Purdue on target for an 83-75 Big Ten triumph before an announced sellout.

Leyden grad Marcus Green added 15 points off the bench for the Boilermakers (17-5, 8-1).

Illinois registered season highs in free throws (30) and attempts (41) -- an amazing percentage for this bunch -- yet never led over the final 30 minutes to get swept by Purdue for the first time since 1999.

"I thought we'd win," Weber said. "I'll be honest. I thought we'd kind of come together and find a way to win."

Instead, after Illinois sliced a 13-point second-half deficit to 3, Moore became a one-man rally-killer.

Moore hit 7 shots in a row during a six-minute stretch -- a run that included a 15-foot fadeaway bank, a tough floater in the lane and an NBA-length 3-pointer -- to ensure the Boilermakers kept their share of the Big Ten lead.

"Tonight (the basket) felt like an ocean," Moore said.

Randle was one of three Illini defenders who tried and failed to contain Moore, an East Chicago, Ind., native who visited Illinois several times during the recruiting process.

"Our guys knew he was hot," said Purdue coach Matt Painter. "And that's what the coaching staff said: 'It doesn't matter what you run, just finish it with E'Twaun getting the ball.' "

Until Moore's spree, which gave Purdue a 69-59 lead with 5:36 to go, Illinois (10-13, 2-8) looked like it might be able to handle a battle of attrition.

Senior center Shaun Pruitt hit all 6 of his shots from the field on his way to 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Randle repeatedly slashed recklessly to the basket for most of his career-high 21 points.

"I just got frustrated," Randle said. "If it takes me to get out of my element and really start cursing and acting a fool (to get the team going), then that's what it's going to take."