Nov. 19, 2005
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Freshman Nate Minnoy scored 25 points to lead Purdue to an 82-75 win over Wofford on Saturday night in Matt Painter's debut as coach of the Boilermakers.
Carl Landry added 22 points for the Boilermakers (1-0). Shane Nichols and Howard Wilkerson each scored 21 points for Wofford (1-2).
New players gave the new coach the victory. Three freshmen - Marcus Green, Chris Lutz and Minnoy - started for Purdue. Another freshman, Korey Spates, was the first player off the bench. Freshmen combined to score 50 points in the win.
Painter replaced Gene Keady, who won 512 games in 25 years at Purdue. The Boilermakers slipped to 7-21 last year, but the season-opening win gave Purdue fans hope that a revival will come sooner rather than later.
Wofford took a 74-71 lead on a Nichols 3-pointer with 2:18 to go, but Spates scored six of his 16 points in the final 2 minutes.
Minnoy's debut was as impressive as Painter's. He scored 15 points in the first half as the Boilermakers built a 47-32 lead at the break.
Painter went into the game saying he wouldn't take Wofford lightly. The Terriers led No. 14 West Virginia 24-19 at halftime before losing 61-41 last Sunday.
Wofford stayed in Saturday's game by making 12 3-pointers.
Purdue shot 59 percent from the field, but shot 15-for-29 from the line and committed 21 turnovers.