Nov. 22, 2008
Box Score 
| Box Score | AP Gallery 
| Photo Gallery
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Finally, the home crowd got a full dose of Robbie Hummel.
The preseason Big Ten player of the year had been saddled with foul trouble for much of Purdue's first three games, limiting his minutes. He finally stayed on the court Saturday, and he had 20 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 11 Purdue beat Coppin State 66-46.
It was the sixth double-double of Hummel's career, and his first this season. The 6-foot-8 sophomore made three 3-pointers and was perfect on seven free throw tries in 26 minutes.
"He did some good things tonight," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "It was good for him, and good for the fans. He just needs to play and get some minutes."
In typical fashion, he took little credit for his success.
"My teammates made it easy for me tonight," he said. "I definitely had some good screens."
Nemanja Calasan scored 11 points and E'Twaun Moore added 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Boilermakers (4-0). Purdue's next game will be against Boston College on Wednesday in the NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals at Madison Square Garden.
The Boilermakers struggled to avoid thinking ahead.
"This game was definitely tough to focus on," guard Chris Kramer said. "We have a big tournament coming up. Everybody's looking forward to that."
Tywain Mckee scored 17 points and Vince Goldsberry added 10 for Coppin State (1-2), but Purdue held the Eagles to 30 percent shooting for the game.
The Boilermakers had to work hard to put up more points than their football team did earlier in the day. Purdue defeated Indiana 62-10 in coach Joe Tiller's last game before his retirement, then the basketball team took the court next door a few hours later.
Many of the fans in gold and black enjoyed the doubleheader, and taunted the Indiana fans who dared wear Hoosier crimson and cream at Mackey Arena.
The basketball team reached 62 on a jumper by Keaton Grant with 5:50 to play, then surpassed the football team's output on two free throws by Calasan with 4:48 left.
Purdue led 12-11 midway through the first half before going on a 16-2 run to take control. The highlight of the run was a two-handed dunk by JaJuan Johnson that made it 18-11.
The Boilermakers led 35-22 at halftime. Purdue shot just 39 percent in the first half, but the Boilermakers held Coppin State to 32 percent shooting and forced 11 turnovers.
Mckee picked up his second foul on a charge with 11:02 left in the first half and his team trailing 12-8. He sat out for the rest of the half.
"We knew they had that one guy who dominates the ball," Kramer said. "We got him out, and from that point on, their offense stagnated."
Mckee left an impression. The MEAC preseason player of the year scored 11 points in the second half.
"I think Mckee showed his ability to score," Painter said. "He is shifty and a good shooter."
Purdue has allowed an average of 20 points in the first half of its games this season. Painter said the team's goal is to hold opponents to 25 points per half.
Purdue opened the second half with a 9-0 run that included a breakaway dunk by Johnson and a bucket and a 3-pointer by Hummel to take a 44-22 lead. A putback shot by Goldsberry with 9:22 to play was the first basket someone other than Mckee scored for the Eagles in the second half.
Now, the Boilermakers can focus on the trip to New York. If the Boilermakers beat Boston College, they will play either Oklahoma or UAB in the final on Friday.
"There's no doubt, it's a great field," Painter said. "We're going to get challenged. They've (Boston College) got a great team. We're going to have to be prepared. Then the next night, no matter what, we're going to have a great opponent also."
The Boilermakers see the tournament as preparation for an expected third consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. Purdue has reached the second round of the tournament the past two seasons.
"The opponents we're going to see are going to be a great gauge of how far we've come since last season," Kramer said.