| Illinois 66, PURDUE 57 Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center (12,965) - Box Score | Box Score  | SoundCloud Audio | Interviews | Photos  | Media CenterSocial Media: @BoilerBall  | Facebook  | Instragram | SoundCloud |
Jon Octeus scored 14 points with six rebounds in the loss to Illinois.
#BoilerNotes
- Purdue fell to 97-86 all-time against Illinois and 24-22 all-time in the State Farm Center. Purdue is now 12-6 against the Illini during the Painter era.
- In the 183 games during the series, Purdue has now scored 10,467 points. Illinois has scored 10,466.
- Purdue was outrebounded by the first time in since Dec. 20 vs. Notre Dame, when the Illini outrebounded the Boilermakers, 43-35. Purdue allowed a season-high 16 offensive rebounds.
- It marked just the third time this year that Purdue has been outrebounded, falling to 0-3 (Illinois, Notre Dame, Kansas State). Purdue has lost seven straight games when being outrebounded.
- Purdue recorded a season-low 10 turnovers.
- Illinois went 21-of-24 from the free throw line. Teams are now shooting 79.6 percent from the free throw line in league play against Purdue.
- Purdue went 0-of-6 from the three-point line in the first half, making the Boilermakers 5-of-45 (.111) from long distance in league play during the first half.
- During regulation play, Purdue is just 11-of-24 (.463) from the free throw line in the last two games.
- Purdue trailed by two at halftime, 32-30. The 30 points were the most in a first half this year in Big Ten play. Yet, Purdue has not led at halftime in any Big Ten game this year.
- Purdue fell to 4-6 this year in games decided by single-digits.
- Purdue fell to 1-8 this year when opponents have more free throw attempts. The Boilermakers are 10-0 when shooting more free throws than its opponent.
- Purdue dropped to 10-3 this year when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent (losses to Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas State).
- Purdue's post tandem of A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas went scoreless in the second half, and combined for a season-low 10 points.
- Jon Octeus scored in double-figures for the eighth straight game with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
- Vince Edwards tallied 11 points with a career-high six assists and five rebounds. Purdue fell to 6-1 when he scores in double-figures.
- Rapheal Davis scored 14 points with six rebounds and two assists. He connected on his first three-pointer since Nov. 20 vs. Grambling, and made two three-pointers in a game for the first time since March 20, 2013, vs. Western Illinois.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Illinois survived a cold start and got double-figure scoring from four players Wednesday to hold off Purdue, 66-57.
Purdue made a late charge but a Nnanna Egwu dunk with 18 seconds left put the Illini up 64-57.
Malcolm Hill led Illinois (13-7, 3-4 Big Ten) with 18 points. Freshman Leron Black had 15 with 13 rebounds, Kendrick Nunn scored 14 points and Egwu 11.
The Illini shot just 28.6 percent in the first half but somehow went to the locker room with a 32-30 lead.
Illinois also relied on efficient free throw shooting while keeping the Boilermakers away from the line. Illinois was 21 of 24 while Purdue was just 4 of 9.
Jon Octeus and Raphael Davis led the Boilermakers (11-8, 3-3) with 14 points each.
Purdue played most of the game without leading scorer Kendall Stephens who aggravated a finger he broke earlier in the season.
As the game slipped away late, the Boilermakers' and coach Matt Painter's frustrations showed.
Painter twice called his team to the sideline in the final minutes, sharply criticizing their energy and effort.
After the Boilermakers closed to within four at 56-52 with 3:30 to play on a 3-pointer by Davis, the Illini closed on a 10-5 run that sealed the win.
Through the game's first 15 minutes, Illinois had to wonder where points would come from.
Nunn, Ahmad Starks and Hill combined to miss their first 10 shots. They didn't get much better from there - with Nunn missing badly on a long, desperate 3-pointer and Starks watching what looked like an easy layup roll off the rim - until Nunn sparked the offense with a little bit of defense.
The sophomore pulled off a pair of steals in the first half's final minutes, both leading to points that keyed an 8-0 run.
The final shot was a 3 from Hill that found nothing but net with 2 seconds left on the clock. It gave the Illini a 32-30 edge that, minutes earlier, seemed highly unlikely.
Illinois shot just 28.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
TIP-INS
Purdue: Coming into the Wednesday's game, the road had not been kind to the Boilermakers. They had lost nine of their last 10 away from home. The only win was Saturday at Penn State.
Illinois: With a block late in the first half, Egwu broke the Illini career blocked-shots record. Deon Thomas had held the record at 177 since 1994. Egwu finished with five Wednesday, giving him a career 179.
UP NEXT
Purdue hosts Iowa on Saturday.
Illinois ends a two-game homestand, travelling to Minnesota on Saturday.