| PURDUE 68 (14-8, 6-3), Northwestern 60 (10-11, 1-7) Evanston, Ill. | Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117) - Box Score | Box Score  | SoundCloud Audio | Media CenterSocial Media: @BoilerBall  | Facebook  | Instragram | SoundCloud |
A.J Hammons scored 16 points with nine rebounds and two assists in Purdue's 68-60 win over Northwestern (file photo).
#BoilerNotes
- Purdue improved to 124-46 all-time against Northwestern and avoided its first three-game losing streak to Northwestern since 2003-06. The 124 wins are the most against any opponent in school history.
- Purdue is 6-3 in Big Ten play for the first time since the 2010-11 season (7-2). The victory surpasses last year's win total in Big Ten play.
- Purdue's win was its first in Evanston since Jan. 28, 2012, and the eight-point margin was its largest at Welsh-Ryan Arena since Feb. 16, 2008 (71-56 win).
- Purdue went 15-of-18 (.833) from the free throw line in the second half and outscored the Wildcats, 24-8, at the free throw line.
- Purdue outscored Northwestern, 20-8, in the paint in the second half.
- Purdue had five turnovers in the game's first 9 minutes, but had just three turnovers in the final 31 minutes.
- Purdue recorded 16 assists on 21 made field goals.
- Northwestern's 41.8 percent shooting from the field was the first time in the last four games that a foe shot over 40.0 percent from the field.
- Purdue has held every opponent (regulation play only) under its pregame scoring average. Northwestern entered game averaging 64.8 points per game. Just one team (Penn State) has shot its pregame field goal percentage.
- With just eight turnovers, Purdue has had single-digit in three of the last four games, averaging just 9.3 turnovers during that span.
- Purdue has outshot five straight opponents from the field.
- Purdue recorded its 39th road win since the start of the 2007-08 season, the fourth most in Big Ten play in that span, just one behind Ohio State's 40 for third place.
- Purdue is now 12-0 this year when attempting more free throws than its opponent.
- Purdue is 4-5 this year when trailing at halftime, including 4-2 in Big Ten play.
- Purdue improved to 6-1 when A.J. Hammons and Rapheal Davis both score in double-figures. The duo scored 31 points with 16 rebounds and six assists against no turnovers. They went a combined 12-of-18 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line.
- Purdue is now 8-1 this year when A.J. Hammons leads the team in rebounds, and 7-0 when he wins the opening tip. When he scores 10 or more points this year, Purdue is 11-4. When he fails to reach double-figures, Purdue is just 3-4.
- Isaac Haas scored 10 points in 11 minutes. He and Hammons combined for 26 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while going 9-of-11 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free throw line.
- Jon Octeus tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists while going 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
- Rapheal Davis scored 15 points with seven rebounds and four assists against no turnovers. Over the last four games, Davis is averaging 18.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 2.3 APG.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) AJ Hammons scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Purdue beat Northwestern 68-60 on Saturday.
Raphael Davis added 15 points and Jon Octeus had 14 points for the Boilermakers (14-8, 6-3 Big Ten), who have won three straight.
Tre Demps and Bryant McIntosh scored 18 points apiece for the Wildcats, who have lost seven straight.
Purdue took control of the game with a 21-4 run to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a 16-point lead in the second half.
Northwestern (10-11, 1-7) remains winless in 2015 with their lone conference victory coming over Rutgers on Dec. 30. The Wildcats' average margin of defeat in its last five games was 3.4 points, and they had lost their previous three by a total of five points.
The Boilermakers opened the second half on a 15-2 run for a 43-31 lead, its largest of the game. After Alex Olah scored his first points of the game with 18:38 remaining to pull Northwestern with 32-31, Purdue scored the next 11 points.
Jeremiah Kreisberg broke the Wildcats' scoreless streak with a jumper with 15:06 remaining, cutting the lead to 43-33. But Northwestern's Vic Law was called for goaltending on the next possession and Purdue extended its run to 21-4 for a 49-33 lead with 13:19 remaining. Davis scored eight points and Hammons had six points during Purdue's run.
A Scottie Lindsey dunk and an Olah layup pulled the Wildcats within 55-48. Four free throws from Octeus and Hammons extended Purdue's lead to 59-50 with 3:15 left. Octeus added a dunk for a 61-50 lead before Demps hit a 3 and McIntosh made two free throws to cut the lead to 61-53 with 1:48 left. Davis' two free throws put Purdue ahead 63-55 with 1:11 remaining and McIntosh missed a layup on the other end.
Purdue shot 47 percent from the field to Northwestern's 42 percent. The Boilermakers were 24 of 32 on free throws while the Wildcats were 8 of 11. Isaac Haas added 10 points for Purdue.
Northwestern led 29-28 at halftime after shooting 43 percent from the field to Purdue's 45 percent. The Boilermakers were just 9 of 14 at the free-throw line. McIntosh led the Wildcats with eight points, and Hammons had eight for Purdue. The Boilermakers held the largest lead in the first half at four points while Northwestern led by no more than three.
The game featured two of the top centers in the Big Ten. Hammons entered the game averaging 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and a conference-leading 2.8 blocked shots. Olah was averaging 11.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots. Olah finished with four points and one rebound - all in the second half - and fouled out with 3:15 remaining.
Purdue was coming off a pair of home victories against ranked teams, an 83-67 upset of No. 22 Indiana and a 67-63 win over then-No. 25 Iowa. Northwestern fell 68-67 to No. 16 Maryland in its last game.
The Boilermakers last won in Evanston during the 2011-12 season.
Northwestern swept Purdue last season.
TIP-INS
Purdue: The Boilermakers were leading the Big Ten with 5.6 blocks per game and were holding opponents to a 38.3 percent shooting percentage in conference play. . Hammons is one of five Division I players with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds and 200 blocks. . Purdue leads the series against Northwestern 123-46. . The Boilermakers had a chance to surpass last season's win total in the conference. They went 5-13 in the Big Ten last season.
Northwestern: Freshman PG Bryant McIntosh was leading the team with 12.4 points per game and was sixth in the Big Ten with 4.5 assists per game. . The Wildcats roster has six freshmen and two sophomores.
UP NEXT
Purdue hosts Ohio State on Wednesday.
Northwestern visits Nebraska on Tuesday.
#BoilerUp