Boilermakers' season ends with double overtime loss

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

The first and second overtimes of Purdue's season-ending 85-77 loss to Alabama Friday night were a microcosm of the Boilers' season.

With John Allison and Rodney Smith in the lineup, Purdue could contend with any team. Without the junior post players, the Boilers struggled.

This was the case once again Friday night.

"As everybody knows, they're our two best players, and it's hard to win these types of games without your two best players, your two best scorers, your two best rebounders," Kenneth Lowe said. "Our young guys came in and did the best they could, but we just couldn't put it away."

Purdue was up 60-55 when Smith, who had nine points and two steals, fouled out. Alabama went on a 7-0 run from there. Had it not been for a hook shot made by Allison that tied the score at 62 with eight seconds left, the Crimson Tide (24-10) would have won in regulation.

Allison fouled out with 3:23 left in the first overtime after Purdue (17-15) had gone up 66-65 on a jumper by senior Carson Cunningham.

It was Purdue's last lead of the game.

Cunningham hit two free throws to tie the game at 73 and force a second overtime, but the Boilers missed their last nine field goals in the second overtime and ended their run at a National Invitation Tournament title.

"We got a lot of second-chance opportunities to win this game and we just didn't capitalize," said Lowe, who had 12 points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field.

Lowe played tremendous defense on 6-foot-8 Alabama guard/forward Rod Grizzard, who came in averaging 17.4 points per game. The 6-3 sophomore limited Grizzard to three field goals in regulation and 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting for the game.

However, 6-9 center Kenny Walker and 6-8 forward Erwin Dudley beat Purdue up inside.

Walker, who came in averaging 6.1 points per game, had 24 points and eight rebounds before fouling out with 30 seconds left in the first overtime. Dudley had 20 points and 16 rebounds in 43 minutes of action.

"They had too many horses for us," Purdue coach Gene Keady said. "Walker and Dudley just kicked our behinds. They were great on the boards."

Allison said it was hard to establish an inside presence against Alabama, which out-rebounded Purdue 55-44 and had eight blocks, compared to Purdue's two.

On offense, the Crimson Tide used screens and backdoor passes to isolate Allison and Purdue's other post players and create mismatches.

"That was probably our biggest downfall — not being able to cover their post men," said Allison, who had nine points, seven rebounds and a block.

Purdue's best shooter during the NIT, Maynard Lewis, fell face-first on the floor with 4:31 left in regulation. He returned with a repaired cut above his eye, but he was ineffective and Keady thought Lewis might have suffered a concussion. Lewis had 12 points, including a 3-pointer that gave Purdue a 28-19 lead in the first half; however, he wasn't the same with the stitches above his eye.

Terrance Meade had 14 points for Alabama, including two free throws with 25.4 seconds left in regulation. Those free throws gave Alabama a 62-60 advantage — its first lead since a 6-5 edge.

Purdue led by as many as many as 11, but Alabama made all four of its field goal attempts and four of 11 free throws in the second overtime to send the Boilers home.

Alabama advances to the NIT semifinals Tuesday in New York and will face Detroit (25-10).

ALABAMA 85, PURDUE 77, 2OT

ALABAMA (24-10)

Wallace 3-8 5-8 11, London 0-0 0-0 0, Meade 4-10 5-6 14, Martin 1-2 1-2 3, Grizzard 4-11 0-3 10, Stinnett 0-5 0-0 0, Dudley 8-16 4-7 20, Walker 8-14 8-10 24, Pettway 0-3 3-4 3. Totals 28-69 26-40 85.

PURDUE (17-15)

Deane 4-12 3-4 12, Buscher 2-4 0-0 4, Parkinson 0-0 0-0 0, Lewis 3-11 1-2 10, Marshall 2-6 0-0 5, Lowe 2-9 8-9 12, Wetzel 2-3 0-2 4, Smith 4-10 0-0 9, Cunningham 4-13 4-16 12, Allison 4-9 1-2 9. Totals 27-76 17-25 77.

Halftime — Purdue 30, Alabama 25. End of Regulation — Alabama 62, Purdue 62. End of 1st Overtime — Alabama 73, Purdue 73. 3-Point goals — Alabama 3-16 (Grizzard 2-6, Meade 1-3, Martin 0-1, Wallace 0-2, Stinnett 0-4), Purdue 6-27 (Lewis 3-8, Smith 1-2, Deane 1-5, Marshall 1-5, Lowe 0-1, Cunningham 0-6). Fouled out — Smith, Walker, Allison, Wetzel. Rebounds — Alabama 55 (Dudley 16), Purdue 44 (Buscher 10). Assists — Alabama 12 (Meade 3), Purdue 12 (Lowe, Parkinson 3). Total fouls — Alabama 23, Purdue 31. Technical — Grizzard. A — 8,484.

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Boilermakers' season ends with double overtime loss

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
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