Purdue Stifles Northwestern in Big Ten OpenerPurdue Stifles Northwestern in Big Ten Opener

Purdue Stifles Northwestern in Big Ten Opener

Purdue defeated Northwestern 58-44 in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Sunday.

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#BoilerNotes
  • Purdue improved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten Conference with a 58-44 victory over Northwestern in the league opener for both squads.
  • Purdue has held opponents under 45 points in consecutive games for first time since Dec. 10 and 15, 1947 (Marquette – 44; Pittsburgh – 29) … Purdue has held seven straight foes to 65 or fewer points, the longest streak since 2009-10 … over the last three games, opponents are 56 of 154 (.364) from the field and 10 of 58 (.172) from 3-point range … Purdue has held seven of nine opponents under 39.0 percent shooting.
  • During the last two first halves, opponents have scored just 33 points and shot 13 of 44 (.295) from the field.
  • Purdue has won seven straight games against Northwestern, the longest streak against the Wildcats since a nine-game stretch from Jan. 5, 1994, to Jan. 24, 1998.
  • Purdue is now 10-5 under Matt Painter in Big Ten openers … Purdue has won nine of its last 10 Big Ten openers.
  • Jahaad Proctor has scored in double-figures in 25 straight games, dating to last year at High Point.
  • Purdue is now 24-4 in his career when Matt Haarms scores at least 10 points.
  • Purdue's starters went 20 of 42 from the field … Purdue's bench was just 3 of 17.
  • Purdue is 43-4 at home against Big Ten opposition since the start of the 2014-15 season … Purdue has won 13 straight home games against Big Ten teams.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Sasha Stefanovic scored 14 points and Matt Haarms added 12 points to lead Purdue to a 58-44 victory over Northwestern in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Sunday.

The Boilermakers (6-3) led 49-42 with 4:01 to go before reeling off nine straight points to take command.

Stefanovic scored 10 points in the second half including a 3-pointer that capped the 9-0 run and ignited the crowd.

Jahaad Proctor added 10 points for Purdue, which won its seventh in a row over Northwestern.

Pete Nance led Northwestern (4-4) with 14 points. He was the only Wildcat in double figures.

Haarms, Trevion Williams and Eric Hunter Jr. each had seven rebounds as Purdue held a 38-31 edge.

Purdue took a 45-32 edge with 7:21 left in the game on a driving layup by Stefanovic.

After Northwestern reeled off five consecutive points, Haarms answered with a layup.

Purdue, which shot 39% overall, held a 22-16 lead after an ugly first half as both teams suffered long scoring droughts.

After A.J. Turner hit a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats a 14-13 with 7:44 left before the break, the Wildcats managed just one field goal the rest of the half.

Northwestern shot just 27 percent in the first half and 34% overall.


BIG PICTURE

Northwestern will look to get its offense in gear and avoid another stumble against SIU-Edwardsville. The Wildcats already have suffered disappointing home losses to Merrimack and Radford.

Fresh from Wednesday's 69-40 rout of No. 5 Virginia, Purdue began defense of its Big Ten title with a lackluster victory.


UP NEXT

Northwestern faces SIU-Edwardsville in a nonconference home game on Sunday.

Purdue is at Big Ten opponent Nebraska on Sunday. The Boilermakers follow that with a nonconference game at Ohio on Dec. 17 and No. 24 Butler at the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis on Dec. 21.