November 22, 1998
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Brian Cardinal had 18 points and eight rebounds as Purdue held off Lafayette for a 72-67 victory Sunday.
No. 15 Purdue (4-0) hit 8-of-10 free throws in the final 1:16 of the game to ensure the win. Cardinal began the string with two free throws with 1:16 left to give Purdue a 66-59 lead.
Lafayette's Brian Ehlers countered with a jump shot with 1:08 left before Tony Mayfield hit two free throws for Purdue with 59 seconds remaining, giving the Boilermakers a 68-61 lead.
Tyson Whitfield hit a 3-pointer to bring Lafayette (2-1) within 68-64 with 43 seconds remaining and added another 3 that cut Purdue's lead to 69-67 with 12 seconds left.
The contest was a tuneup for Purdue, which is headed to New York City to play North Carolina in the Chase NIT Preseason Tournament on Wednesday. Stanford and St. John's play in the second game.
Purdue jumped out to a 21-6 lead and led the entire way. Jaraan Cornell's free throw with 13:29 remaining left put Purdue up 15. Cornell finished with 11 points.
Lafayette converted four Purdue turnovers into points and closed the gap to 25-22 with 6:29 left in the first half on Tim Beig's 3-pointer.
Purdue outscored Lafayette 14-7 in the final six minutes of the first half to lead 39-29 at halftime. Gary McQuay led Purdue's charge with three layups and a free throw.
The Boilermakers continued their surge in the first three minutes of the second half, going on an 8-5 run for a 47-34 lead with 16:55 remaining in the game.
Whitfield and Ehlers each scored 13 points for Lafayette. Beig and Ross Harms had 10 each.