Cunningham breaks out of cocoon in Boiler win

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Four days after going scoreless in a loss to Indiana, Purdue senior Carson Cunningham went to the VCR for a little help.

"I saw 'Cocoon' before the game," said Cunningham, who scored a season-high 21 points to lead Purdue to an 83-68 win over Minnesota Saturday night in Mackey Arena.

The 23-year-old fifth-year senior, who had double knee surgery in the offseason, played 31 minutes and hit 7 of 14 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. He also had four assists and three steals.

"I was inspired by all the old people who jumped in the pool (at the end of 'Cocoon'), and I applied that to myself," he said.

Four days ago, in a 66-55 loss to Indiana, Cunningham was 0 for 6 from the field and missed his lone free throw attempt.

"It was nice to hit a shot, just even a freakin' shot," Cunningham said. "I've got to help this team score, so it's nice to help in that fashion."

Cunningham got involved right away for the Boilers (13-6, 5-3 Big Ten), hitting a 3-pointer on Purdue's first possession of the game and canning another to give Purdue a 10-8 lead. They would never trail again.

Willie Karashin/Senior Photgrapher HIGH-LOWE: Kenneth Lowe drives for a layup during Saturday's game. Lowe went on a personal 9-0 run in the second half as Purdue pulled away.

After Minnesota (15-5, 3-4) got to within five at 32-27, Purdue closed the half on a 12-0 run that included a 3-pointer from Cunningham and five points from junior guard Maynard Lewis.

Purdue On Jan. 17 in Minneapolis, the Boilers trailed by 17, 35-18, in a 70-67 loss to Minnesota Jan. 17.

However, Minnesota came out with better intensity in the second half. The Golden Gophers went on an 18-6 run that included eight points from freshman Michael Bauer. Bauer's 3-pointer with 15:06 mark made the score 50-45 in favor of Purdue.

The 6-foot-8 Bauer had 12 points and eight rebounds at that juncture. However, at the 14:23 mark, Bauer stumbled, fell and severely broke his left wrist. His arm was reset at Home Hospital in Lafayette.

"It's a bad break and I feel sorry for the young man because he's a heck of a freshman," Purdue coach Gene Keady said. "He might have been rookie of the year in the league if he would have stayed healthy."

With Bauer out, Purdue closed the game on a 33-23 run.

NOTES: Before the game Keady was presented with a basketball commemorating the 800th win of his head coaching career, a career that includes stints at the high school, junior college, Division I and USA Basketball levels. Win No. 800 was a 78-59 triumph over Northwestern last Saturday in Mackey Arena. … Junior center John Allison was named a co-captain of the team Friday, joining Cunningham and junior Rodney Smith, who have been captains all season. … The date and start time for Purdue's game with Iowa in late February has been set. The contest will commence at 8 p.m. EST Feb. 21 in Iowa City, Iowa.

PURDUE 83, MINNESOTA 68

MINNESOTA (15-5 (3-4)
Simmons, Terrance 5-10 5-6 17, Schilling, Shane 5-12 2-2 15, Rychart, Dusty 4-10 4-4 13, Bauer, Michael 5-11 0-0 12, Fleming, Kerwin 2-6 1-2 5, Bickerstaff, John-Bl 1-4 2-4 4, Bennett, Travarus 1-6 0-0 2, Anderle, Matt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-60 14-18 68.

PURDUE (13-6 (5-3)
Cunningham, Carson 7-14 3-4 21, Allison, John 5-10 5-6 15, Smith, Rodney 6-13 0-0 15, Lewis, Maynard 4-7 3-3 13, Lowe, Kenneth 3-4 5-5 11, Deane, Willie 2-3 1-2 5, Buscher, Brett 0-1 1-2 1, Best, Travis 0-1 1-2 1, Garrity, Kevin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-54 20-29 83.

Halftime: Purdue 44, Minnesota 27. 3-point goals-Minnesota 8-21 (Schilling, Shane 3-7, Bauer, Michael 2-4, Simmons, Terrance 2-3, Rychart, Dusty 1-1, Bennett, Travarus 0-1, Bickerstaff, John-Bl 0-2, Fleming, Kerwin 0-3), Purdue 9-19 (Cunningham, Carson 4-8, Smith, Rodney 3-6, Lewis, Maynard 2-3, Deane, Willie 0-1, Best, Travis 0-1). Fouled out--Minnesota-None, Purdue-Deane, Willie. Rebounds-Minnesota 35 (Bauer, Michael 8), Purdue 34 (Allison, John 8). Assists-Minnesota 14 (Bickerstaff, John-Bl 7), Purdue 17 (Lowe, Kenneth 5). Total fouls-Minnesota 20, Purdue 17. A-14123Home #00 fouled out at 2:06 of the 2nd half.

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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