December 19, 1998
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Jaraan Cornell scored 13 points and No. 8 Purdue used six free throws in the final minute to hold off Butler 63-54 in the sixth annual Boilermaker Blockbuster at Market Square Arena Saturday night.
The Boilermakers (11-1) led by 14 points after a pair of 3-pointers by Cornell in the first three minutes of the second half and by 13 with 3:48 to go on a 3-point basket by Alan Eldridge.
But Butler (3-5) scored 10 consecutive points and trimmed the Purdue lead to 57-54 on a layup by Mike Marshall with 48 seconds remaining. Those were the final points for the Bulldogs, however, and Eldridge hit two free throws with 36 seconds to go, ending a three-minute scoring drought for the Boilermakers.
Greg McQuay sank two free throws with 16 seconds left, and Eldridge added two more with six seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Purdue also had double-digit scoring from Mike Robinson with 12 points and Brian Cardinal with 10. Butler was led by Bjorn Gieseck and Marshall with 14 points apiece.
The Boilermakers raced to an 11-2 lead and never trailed. The Bulldogs closed within 15-14 on a layup by Thomas Jackson, but a 3-pointer by Carson Cunninham started a 6-0 run that helped Purdue to a 29-22 lead at the half.