Feb. 12, 2003
Purdue-Northwestern Statistics in PDF Format
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By JASON STRAIT
AP Sports Writer
EVANSTON, Ill. - Aaron Jennings had a career-high 20 points as Northwestern made 13-of-14 free throws over the final 1:06 in a 78-67 win over Purdue on Wednesday.
Willie Deane's 3-pointer cut the Northwestern lead to five with 42 seconds left. After a pair free throws from Winston Blake, Mohamed Hachad stole the Purdue inbounds pass and was fouled.
Hachad then made both free throws, giving the Wildcats (10-11, 2-8 Big Ten) their second big home victory in the last week. The Wildcats upset Indiana 74-61 last Wednesday, ending a 26-game losing streak to the Hoosiers that dated back 15 years.
As they did in the Indiana game, students streamed onto the court after the win and mobbed Northwestern players in celebration.
Jason Burke had 14 points, including two free throws over the final stretch, and had six assists.
Purdue (15-6, 7-3) entered the game tied with Michigan for the Big Ten lead and could have taken sole possession of first place with a win. Michigan lost to Indiana on Wednesday.
Deane had 19 points for Purdue, but was just 5-of-16 from the field. Chris Booker added 14 points.
With Wildcats leading 52-40, Darmetreis Kilgore scored four straight points to cut the deficit to eight and Booker stole the ball near midcourt and scored on a breakaway to make it 52-46.
However, the Wildcats quickly got the lead back to 11 on a long 3-pointer by T.J. Parker and a layup by Jennings and were able to make their free throws down the stretch for the win.
Purdue was coming off a 90-68 loss at Minnesota. Coach Gene Keady questioned his team's focus after the loss, saying the Boilermakers were inexplicably unmotivated even with the conference lead on the line.
They certainly came out flat against the Wildcats under similar circumstances.
The Boilermakers, third in the Big Ten in scoring at 75.5 points per game, scored a season-low 20 points in the first half, shot 25 percent and trailed 31-20 at halftime.
Northwestern took its largest lead of the first half after Keady was called for a technical foul with the Boilermakers trailing by 10 with 1:02 left before halftime.
A charging call at midcourt on Austin Parkinson enraged Keady, who stormed to the end of the Purdue bench and back, then gave officials a sarcastic bow after picking up the technical.
Blake made one of two free throws, then found a cutting Davor Duvancic for a layup and a 13-point Wildcats lead.