Feb. 24, 2001
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Carson Cunningham and Joe Marshall each scored 17 points and Purdue hit all 25 of its free throws Saturday as the Boilermakers ended a six-game losing streak with a 78-59 victory over Michigan.
The loss was the sixth in seven games for Michigan, which fell to 4-10 in the Big Ten and 10-15 overall.
Purdue's losing streak was its longest in 20 seasons as the Boilermakers tried to compensate for the loss of leading scorer Rodney Smith and top rebounder John Allison. Both players are out for the season with broken bones in their right feet.
The victory improved Purdue's record to 6-9 in the conference and 14-12 overall.
Purdue led 45-30 at halftime after outscoring Michigan 16-7 in the final 3:07 of the first half. Maynard Lewis had a pair of three-point baskets to spark the run.
The Boilermakers shot 7-for-13 from three-point range in the first half, with Lewis and Marshall connecting on three apiece.
Purdue led 20-6 with 8:39 left in the first half but the Wolverines had a 16-7 spurt that cut the margin to 27-21 on a three-point basket by Bernard Robinson Jr. with 3:49 remaining.
Brett Buscher converted a three-pointer at the start of the second half to give Purdue a 48-30 advantage. Michigan got within nine on LaVell Blanchard's three-point basket with 6:23 to play but Cunningham answered with a basket and Marshall hit two free throws to put the Boilermakers ahead 66-53 with just under five minutes remaining.
Kenneth Lowe finished with 16 points for Purdue, Lewis had 11 and Willie Deane added 10.
Robinson Jr. led Michigan with 20 points and Josh Asselin and Blanchard scored 11 apiece.