March 4, 2009
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Kevin Coble scored 16 points and Northwestern defeated No. 19 Purdue 64-61 on Wednesday night to end the Boilermakers' seven-game home winning streak.
Michael Thompson and Craig Moore both scored 12 points for the Wildcats (17-11, 8-9 Big Ten), who ruined Senior Night for Purdue.
It was Northwestern's third victory over a ranked team this season. The Wildcats beat Minnesota on Jan. 18, then won at Michigan State on Jan. 21.
Keaton Grant and E'Twaun Moore both scored 14 points and JaJuan Johnson added 11 for the Boilermakers (22-8, 11-6). Purdue had won five of its past six games, and had won five straight in the series with Northwestern.
Purdue overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Northwestern 63-61 in Evanston, Ill. on Jan. 15.
The Boilermakers were eliminated in the Big Ten race on Tuesday, when Michigan State beat Indiana.
Northwestern led 20-17 in the first half before Purdue went on a 12-5 run, including two 3-pointers by Grant. The Boilermakers led 35-28 at halftime. Northwestern shot 50 percent in the first half, but Purdue countered by making four 4-pointers and outscoring the Wildcats 9-0 from the free-throw line.
Purdue struggled offensively early in the second half, allowing Northwestern to rally. Coble tied the game at 47 on a fast-break layup, then Northwestern took its first lead of the half on a layup by Jeff Ryan.
Sterling Williams followed with a layup to give the Wildcats a 51-47 lead. Williams missed the free throw on the three-point play, but the ball went out of bounds off a Purdue player, and Williams hit a jumper on the possession to make it 53-47. After Purdue failed to score, Northwestern's Thompson drained a 3-pointer to give Northwestern a nine-point lead with 5:34 to play.
Grant made a 3-pointer to cut Northwestern's lead to 56-52 with just over 2 minutes remaining.
Purdue cut the deficit to two points and had several chances to get closer, but missed three free throws in the final 1:04.
Northwestern led 62-56 and the Boilermakers put Thompson at the line with 6.7 seconds to play and he made both.