Feb. 4, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Marcus White had 18 points and Matt Kiefer 16 as Purdue defeated Wisconsin 70-62 Saturday night to snap its five-game losing streak.
It was only the second victory in 10 games for Purdue (8-13, 2-8 Big Ten), while Wisconsin (15-7, 5-4) lost its third straight and its fifth in six games.
Big Ten scoring leader Alando Tucker topped the Badgers with 22 points, while Kammron Taylor was the only other Wisconsin player in double figures with 11.
Wisconsin opened a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes, but Kiefer rallied the Boilermakers while scoring 9 of their first 11 points and Purdue managed to take its first lead at 12-11 on a rebound layup by Gary Ware.
The score was tied twice after that before Purdue moved ahead to stay 20-17 on a 3-pointer by Chris Lutz, who contributed 12 points and a game-high six assists.
The 3-pointer by Lutz ignited a 12-point Purdue run that included two layups and a 3-pointer by Kiefer, who did all of his scoring in the first half.
Purdue shot nearly 54 percent (14-of-26) in the first half to lead 36-29 at the break and held a 55-39 advantage with 13 minutes left in the game.
The Badgers got to within 10 points at 61-51 on a 3-pointer by Michael Flowers and had the chance to get closer when Flowers came up with a steal, drove the length of the court but missed an open lay-up.
After Bryant Dillon missed the front end of two consecutive bonus opportunities at the free-throw line, Tucker made a layup that left Wisconsin trailing 61-56 with 2:03 to go.
The Badgers then sent Dillon back to the free-throw line again with 1:56 and this time he made both shots. Wisconsin got to within six points again before Purdue took command on a bucket by White, a free throw by Lutz and two by Chris Hartley to lead 68-57 with 41 seconds to go.