March 2, 2002
Purdue-Penn State Box Score in PDF Format
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Purdue-Penn State Post Game Notes in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Maynard Lewis scored 17 points, John Allison and Willie Deane and Joe Marshall each added 16 and Purdue opened the second half on a 21-2 run in a 92-57 win over Penn State on Saturday.
The Boilermakers (13-17, 5-11 Big Ten) avoided their first last-place finish since 1965-66. A loss would have tied the school's single-season record for losses - the 1952-53 team went 4-18.
Deane likely secured the Big Ten scoring championship. He came in averaging 17.4 points. Iowa's Luke Recker was second with 16.4.
The Boilermakers used a 19-3 run early in the first half to race to a 23-8 lead. Penn State went 6-for-14 from 3-point range in the first half and trailed 32-27 at halftime.
But Lewis hit two 3-pointers to start the second half as Purdue made its first six shots and scored 16 straight points.
Penn State (7-20, 3-13) halted the run with five straight points, but the Boilermakers answered with a 19-3 spurt.
Rodney Smith finished with 11 points as the Boilermakers reached a season-high point total.
Seniors Allison, Lewis, Marshall and Smith all played their final home games. All but Marshall played four years. They went 45-23 their first two years and came within one game of the Final Four in 2000. The last two seasons, with Marshall, they were 30-32.
Penn State, which beat Purdue by 13 earlier this month, finished in last place in the Big Ten and failed to win a road game. Brandon Watkins scored 15 points, Tyler Smith had 13 and Sharif Chambliss added 12.
The Boilermakers shot 54 percent and went 8-for-15 from 3-point range.
Deane is the third Boilermaker to win a conference scoring title under coach Gene Keady. Keith Edmonson won the title in 1982 and Glenn Robinson won titles in 1993 and 1994.
This was the worst season in Keady's 22 seasons at Purdue. His only other losing record was 15-16 in 1988-89.