| PURDUE 61, Rutgers 51 Piscataway, N.J. | The RAC (5,805) - Box Score | Box Score  | SoundCloud Audio | Photos  | Media CenterSocial Media: @BoilerBall  | Facebook  | Instragram | SoundCloud |
A.J. Hammons scored 17 points with 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in Purdue's 61-51 win over Rutgers. (file photo)
#BoilerNotes
- Purdue improved to 5-1 all-time against Rutgers and was playing its first game in the State of New Jersey since the 1999 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers improved to 15-1 all-time against the state of New Jersey.
- Purdue has now held eight of its 25 foes to 59 or fewer points on the season. When Purdue holds opponents to 59 or fewer points under Matt Painter, the Boilermakers are 101-4.
- The 51 points allowed were the fewest against a Big Ten opponent since Penn State scored 49 points on Feb. 5, 2013.
- Purdue has held its opponents to 20 or fewer points in a half nine times this year. The Boilermakers did it just three times last year. The 16 first-half points by Rutgers equaled the fewest in a half by a Big Ten team since Iowa scored 15 points in the first half on Feb. 13, 2010.
- Purdue's seven assists tied a season low, also set against Vanderbilt.
- Purdue's 10-point margin of victory was its largest in a Big Ten road game since a 69-56 win over Wisconsin on March 3, 2013. The win also snapped a seven-game Big Ten road losing streak in the month of February.
- Rutgers was just 12-of-40 (.300) from inside the three-point line.
- Purdue has surpassed last year's win total (15), now with a 16-9 overall record.
- Purdue's junior class (A.J. Hammons and Rapheal Davis) combined for 30 of Purdue's 61 points. It marked the fourth time in the last six games that the duo has scored at least 30 points, after doing so just once in the first 19 games (Missouri).
- Purdue has now held its Big Ten opponents under 38.0 percent shooting in six of its 12 games this year. In regulation play only, the Boilermakers have held their opponents under their pregame scoring average (Rutgers averaged 59.0 PPG; scored 51 points).
- Purdue has now led for more than 30 minutes in five of its last six games.
- Purdue improved to 12-2 this year when leading at halftime (168-30 in the Painter era).
- Purdue improved to 14-0 this year when attempting more free throws than its opponent.
- A.J. Hammons recorded his 17th double-figure scoring game with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals and 2 assists. The 3 steals tied a career high. Over the last five games, Hammons has blocked 25 shots. The Boilermakers improved to 9-1 on the season when Hammons wins the opening tip.
- Rapheal Davis 13 points, his 13th double-figure game of the season.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) A.J. Hammons scored 17 points and Purdue held Rutgers to 33 percent shooting from the field in posting a 61-51 victory on Thursday night, sending the Scarlet Knights to their ninth straight loss.
Rapheal Davis added 13 points and five rebounds as the Boilermakers (16-9, 8-4 Big Ten) won for the fifth time in six games and surpassed their win total from last season. Purdue went 15-17 last season in finishing last in the conference.
Kadeem Jack had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead Rutgers (10-16, 2-11), which has not won since knocking off then-No. 4 Wisconsin on Jan. 11. The losing streak is the longest for the Scarlet Knights since dropping nine straight in the 2009-10 season.
Purdue's defense was the difference in this game, although Rutgers certainly didn't help itself with its shooting in the first half. It was 4 of 18 from the field and 6 of 13 from the free throw line.
Scarlet Knights leading scorer Myles Mack summed up the team's frustration. He missed two breakaway layups in the half after steals with one of the misses coming after he missed the front end of a 1-and-1 chance.
Despite its poor shooting, Rutgers tied the game at 12-all on a jumper by Mack with 12:39 left in the half.
Purdue then went on a 13-1 run with Kendall Stephens hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer, and Davis converting a three-point play and a layup to open a 20-12 lead.
After Jack made 1 of 2 free throws, Hammons scored on a rebound dunk and a free throw and Dakota Mathias hit a spinning layup to cap the run.
The Boilermakers opened a 20-point lead at 48-28 on a layup by Vince Edwards with 7:23 left.
Rutgers had a 13-1 run and got within 49-41 but Purdue hit 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
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TIP-INS
Purdue: The Boilermakers snapped a seven-game road losing streak in the month of February. Their last away win in the month was against Penn State on Feb. 5, 2013.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights' 16 first-half points were a season low. The previous low was 18 against Virginia, in a game in which they scored a season-low 26 points.
UP NEXT
Purdue hosts Nebraska on Sunday
Rutgers visits Iowa on Feb. 19