Dec. 17, 2007
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
| Photos | Final Stats (PDF)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- JaJuan Johnson scored 14 points to help Purdue beat Texas Southern 76-56 Monday night in the opening game of the Las Vegas Classic.
Johnson, a freshman, shot 6 for 9 from the field and had five rebounds.
Scott Martin and Keaton Grant scored 11 points each, and Marcus Green had five points and a career-high 10 rebounds for Purdue (7-2). The Boilermakers outrebounded Texas Southern 52-26.
Sollie Norwood led Texas Southern (1-8) with 16 points, but the Tigers shot just 36 percent from the field in their eighth consecutive loss. Texas Southern made 8 of 30 3-pointers.
Purdue, coming off a win over No. 22 Louisville in the Wooden Tradition on Saturday, led Texas Southern 17-14 midway through the first half before finishing it on a 15-5 run to take a 32-19 lead. Purdue outrebounded the Tigers 25-14 before the break.
Purdue shot 58 percent in the second half to pull away. The Boilermakers' biggest lead was 26 points.
Purdue will host Wofford on Wednesday before traveling to Las Vegas to play the rest of their games in the Classic.