Purdue 78, Michigan 59
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) –
Purdue was so focused on ending its six-game losing streak Saturday
that the Boilermakers didn’t realize they were on a record pace
at the free throw line.
"I wasn’t aware
that we hadn’t missed any free throws," said guard Joe Marshall
after Purdue went 25-for-25 from the line on the way to a 78-59 victory
over Michigan. "We were just trying to win the game."
The Boilermakers also went
25-for-25 against Wisconsin on Feb. 7, 1976.
Marshall made eight free
throws as he and Carson Cunningham each scored 17 to lead Purdue’s
balanced attack that had five players score in double figures.
Another key to the Purdue
victory was the Boilermakers’ 38-30 rebounding advantage. Purdue
had 17 offensive rebounds.
"We got some big rebounds
from our guards and from our big guys," Marshall said. "We
got a lot of loose balls. That’s how you win. That’s how we
have to play every game."
The loss was the sixth in
seven games for Michigan, which fell to 4-10 in the Big Ten and 10-15
overall.
Purdue’s losing streak
was its longest in 20 seasons as the Boilermakers tried to compensate
for the loss of leading scorer Rodney Smith and top rebounder John Allison.
Both players are out for the season with broken bones in their right
feet.
The victory improved Purdue’s
record to 6-9 in the conference and 14-12 overall.
"Finally we’ve
learned how to win at the Big Ten level (without Smith and Allison),"
said Purdue coach Gene Keady. "I didn’t think we’d get
that far. Our free throw shooting was unbelievable. And our kids played
pretty good defense. We kept (Michigan) out of their offense."
Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe
said Purdue provided matchup problems for his team, especially when
the Boilermakers went to a small lineup.
"The thing we were most
afraid of came to the forefront," Ellerbe said. "A lot of
times they had four guards on the floor and it’s a problem if one
of our big guys has to guard one of them."
Purdue led 45-30 at halftime
after outscoring Michigan 16-7 in the final 3:07 of the first half.
Maynard Lewis had a pair of three-point baskets to spark the run.
The Boilermakers shot 7-for-13
from three-point range in the first half, with Lewis and Marshall connecting
on three apiece.
Purdue led 20-6 with 8:39
left in the first half but the Wolverines had a 16-7 spurt that cut
the margin to 27-21 on a three-point basket by Bernard Robinson Jr.
with 3:49 remaining.
Brett Buscher converted a
three-pointer at the start of the second half to give Purdue a 48-30
advantage. Michigan got within nine on LaVell Blanchard’s three-point
basket with 6:23 to play but Cunningham answered with a basket and Marshall
hit two free throws to put the Boilermakers ahead 66-53 with just under
five minutes remaining.
Kenneth Lowe finished with
16 points for Purdue, Lewis had 11 and Willie Deane added 10.
Robinson Jr. led Michigan
with 20 points and Josh Asselin and Blanchard scored 11 apiece.
Purdue 78, Michigan 59
PURDUE (14-12)
Buscher 2-3 1-1 5, Garrity
0-2 0-0 0, Deane 3-10 4-4 10, Lowe 4-8 7-7 16, Cunningham 6-15 5-5 17,
Parkinson 0-1 0-0 0, Lewis 4-6 0-0 11, Marshall 3-10 8-8 17, Wetzel
1-4 0-0 2. Totals 23-59 25-25 78.
MICHIGAN (10-15)
Asselin 3-5 5-6 11, Blanchard
3-14 4-4 11, Young 3-6 2-2 8, Jones 1-5 0-1 2, Groninger 1-6, 2-2 5,
Queen 0-5 0-0 0, Gonzales 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson Jr. 8-10 2-2 20, Moore
1-2 0-0 2. Totals 20-53 15-17 59.
Halftime–Purdue 45,
Michigan 30. Three-point field goals–Purdue 7-17 ( Lewis 3-4, Marshall
3-6, Lowe 1-2, Deane 0-1, Parkinson 0-1, Cunningham 0-3), Michigan 4-15
(Robinson Jr. 2-3, Blanchard 1-2, Groninger 1-4, Jones 0-3, Queen 0-3).
Fouled out–Blanchard, Robinson Jr. Rebounds–Purdue 38 (Deane
7), Michigan 30 (Asselin 7). Assists–Purdue 14 (Cunningham 6),
Michigan 13 (Queen 5 ). Total fouls–Purdue 20, Michigan 22. A–11,262.
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