Dec. 13, 2003
Purdue-Central Michigan Box Score in PDF Format
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By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - Brandon McKnight had 13 points and five assists to lead No. 16 Purdue to an 80-39 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday night.
The Boilermakers (7-1) bounced back from a last-second loss at No. 11 Oklahoma on Thursday, completely overwhelming the Chippewas (2-5) from the start at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Purdue contested nearly every shot by the Chippewas, forcing them into 22 percent shooting.
Kenneth Lowe added 13 points for the bigger, stronger Boilermakers, who outrebounded the Chippewas 47-28.
Central Michigan, which is mourning the loss of walk-on Brent Edwards, who died in a car accident on Nov. 25, was eyeing its second upset of a Top 25 team in a week. The Chippewas defeated then-No. 23 Notre Dame on Dec. 6.
They never had a chance against Purdue.
The Boilermakers suffocated Central Michigan on the defensive end from the opening tip, holding the Chippewas to five points and 10 percent shooting through the first 16 minutes.
McKnight led the way, scoring nine points on 4-of-4 shooting while Purdue took a 23-5 lead.
Brandon Voorhees had 11 points for the Chippewas, while Gerrit Brigitha had nine.
Central Michigan had scoring droughts of nine and six minutes in the first half en route to falling behind 32-12.
Purdue was just as impressive on the offensive end, using a balanced attack to pick apart Central Michigan. Six Boilermakers made at least three field goals.
The Boilermakers used a 21-0 run to take a 59-16 lead midway through the second half, turning most of the second half into garbage time.
Ivan Kartelo led the Boilermakers with 11 rebounds and David Teague added eight.
The Chippewas flirted with the modern-era scoring low - 21 by Georgia Southern against Coastal Carolina on Jan. 2, 1997 - before picking up the scoring pace over the last nine minutes.
They scored nearly half their points from the free throw line Saturday on 10-of-20 shooting, while they were 11-of-50 from the field.