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Monday, 1/29/01
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Lisa Trubiana/Senior Photographer FINALLY: Maynard Lewis shoots for three of his 13 points during Saturday's win over Minnesota. The junior had been slumping badly. |
By Seth Schwartz
Senior Writer
With 1:03 left in the first half of Saturday's 83-68 win over Minnesota, Purdue guard Maynard Lewis knocked down his second 3-pointer of the game.
Lewis pumped his fist in the air as if to say, "I'm back!"
The junior scored 13 points against Minnesota, making four of his seven shots from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
Lewis had not shot better than 50 percent from the field since Purdue's 79-51 win against Alabama A&M on Dec. 9. Since then, he has made only 33 of his 105 attempts — 31.4 percent.
His shooting slump really became apparent soon after he scored 14 points in the 80-60 victory against Michigan on Jan. 6. Since then, Lewis has not been the consistent scorer that he had been throughout December.
In the four games prior to Saturday night, Lewis shot a combined 5 for 29 from the field. On Saturday, Lewis finally found a rhythm.
"I just needed to get a couple of buckets in a row," he said.
Lewis' second 3-pointer was part of a 12-0 run that closed the first half. He contributed five points in that stretch and added an assist.
In the second half, Kenneth Lowe found Lewis on the break following a steal by Carson Cunningham for the basket and a foul. Lewis' free throw gave Purdue its biggest lead of the game at 71-52.
Lewis said that this game was a must-win. All day he thought that the Boilers (13-6, 5-3 Big Ten) needed this game because of the tough road ahead and next weeks' game against Michigan State.
"After the Indiana game we had to come back to the drawing board," he said. "We had to get our offense going."
Purdue coach Gene Keady said he hopes Lewis can keep making his shots.
"Maynard's been down, but he's got all sorts of temperament about getting his game better," he said.
Lowe called Lewis one of the best shooters in the Big Ten and said that when Lewis makes his shots it provides the team with a lift off of the bench.
Cunningham was glad that Lewis made his shots. He said the team has the confidence in Lewis' ability to make the open shot.
"It was great to see Maynard shoot the rock well," Cunningham said. "We know he can shoot like that."
Lewis said he has been staying after practice to work on his shooting, but that it is mostly a confidence issue and his teammates really help him out when things aren't going right for him.
"I love being around my teammates," he said. "There's nothing like it. They're like brothers to me… We all love each other. It's great to have teammates like I do."
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