Dec. 16, 2000
By HANK LOWENKRON
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - Maynard Lewis scored six consecutive points, igniting a 23-point Purdue run as Valparaiso went scoreless for over 11 minutes, leading to a 73-46 triumph by the Boilermakers.
Purdue (5-2) trailed Valparaiso (7-3) 32-30 after Jared Nuness scored the first four points of the second half for the Crusaders.
Nuness' jumper came with 19:14 left in the half. Two free throws by Lewis tied the game for the final time at 32 with 18:03 left. Valparaiso didn't score again until Mike Stovall hit a free throw with 7:27 remaining, leaving his team trailing 53-33.
Valparaiso had nine turnovers, missed all six of their shots from the field and three free throws before Stovall's free throw. Stovall later hit a jumper with 3:16 remaining for his team's first field goal since the drought began.
Purdue had built a 57-33 lead before the basket.
John Allison, who led the Boilermakers with 16 points, then scored eight of Purdue's next 11 points following the spurt by Lewis. Rodney Smith had five of his 15 points in the decisive run.
Kenny Lowe had 14 and Lewis finished with 12 as the Boilermakers beat Valparaiso for the 10th time in 11 meetings.
Raitis Grafs was the only Valparaiso player in double figures with 10.
Valparaiso, which was shooting 46 percent coming into the game, was 7-of-19 in the second half. The Crusaders had 11 turnovers, leading to 15 Purdue turnovers in the second half.
Valparaiso finished with 24 turnovers and Purdue capitalized on them for 31 points.
The Boilermakers, meanwhile, had a season-low nine turnovers.
Purdue got the victory despite being outrebounded 30-25.