#BoilerNotes
- Purdue has now started 11-2 (or better) for the fifth time during the Matt Painter era ... Purdue has won 11 games before Christmas for just the fourth time ever (2009-10; 2010-11; 2015-16; 2016-17) ... since the start of last year, Purdue is 37-11 ... the Boilermakers are 30-2 in their last 32 games at Mackey Arena.
- Purdue's 46-point margin was the 19th-largest victory margin in school history ... Purdue's 28-point halftime lead was also the 19th-largest margin in school history.
- Purdue is now 121-4 under Matt Painter when holding foes to 59 or fewer points ... Purdue has won 85 straight games when scoring 90 or more points.
- During Purdue's six-game winning streak, the Boilermakers have outscored opponents by an average of 29.0 points per game ... during that span, Purdue has outrebounded foes by 14.0 rebounds per game and averaged just 11.0 turnovers.
- Purdue is shooting just 16-of-55 (.291) from 3-point range over the last three games ... Purdue had a season-low four triples in the win over Norfolk State.
- Purdue has now held all 12 possible opponents under their pregame scoring average, including eight of them by 12 or more points.
- Purdue turned 18 Norfolk State turnovers in 33 points ... Purdue also had 18 fast-break points and 21 second-chance points.
- Purdue recorded 21 assists, its seventh game with 20 or more assists.
- Norfolk State shot five free throws, the fifth time in the last six games that opponents have shot eight or fewer free throws ... Purdue has MADE 204 free throws this year; opponents have shot 145.
- Caleb Swanigan recorded a career--high 32 points with 20 rebounds ... he posted Purdue's first 30-20 game since Bob Ford vs. Minnesota on Jan. 16, 1971 ... his 30-20 game was the seventh in school history by the fifth different player (Carl McNulty, Terry Dischinger, Dave Schellhase, Bob Ford, Caleb Swanigan) ... Swanigan and Blake Griffin are the only major-college players with three 20-20 games in the same season in the last 20 years ... Swanigan, Griffin and Hofstra's Rokas Gustys (2015-16) are the only players in the last 20 years with back-to-back 20-20 games ... he posted the second 30-20 game this year (UMBC's Jairus Lyle vs. The Citadel; 12-19-16) and the first 30-point, 20-rebound, two-assist game nationally ... he also dished out his 100th career assist and joins Memphis' Dedric Lawson as the only active sophomores with 575 career points, 425 career rebounds and 100 assists ... he recorded his 10th double-double of the season, now the 26th season in Purdue history with 10 or more double-doubles; it's taken him 13 games ... Purdue is 16-2 for his career when he records a double-double ... Swanigan has led the team in rebounding in all 13 games this year ... over the last three games, Swanigan is averaging 26.3 points and 17.0 rebounds per game.
- P.J. Thompson has 34 assists against two turnovers in the last seven games, spanning 182 minutes ... over the last three games, Thompson has 18 assists against zero turnovers ... his career assist-to-turnover ratio is now 173-to-51 (3.39) ... this season, the ratio is 47-to-9 (5.22).
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Caleb Swanigan had a career-best 32 points and 20 rebounds - his fourth consecutive double-double - and No. 15 Purdue defeated Norfolk State 91-45 on Wednesday, the Boilermakers' sixth straight victory.
Swanigan, who is averaging 23 points and 15.3 rebounds during the past four games, had 20 points and 14 rebounds in 17 first-half minutes, when the Boilermakers (11-2) built a commanding 53-25 lead over the Spartans (3-10).
A layup by Swanigan with 8:44 remaining gave the Boilermakers a 75-35 lead and established his career high, replacing the 27 points he scored in a March 2016 victory over Wisconsin in Mackey Arena.
Purdue, which also got 14 points and seven rebounds from center Isaac Haas, made 19 of 34 first-half shots (55.9 percent) and outrebounded Norfolk State 26-9 before halftime. Swanigan and Haas were a combined 12 of 14 from the field before intermission and 7 of 9 from the free throw line.
The Boilermakers led 8-7 with 15:26 left in the first half but countered with a 12-0 run over the next 2:58 to lead 20-7 and continued to pull away.
Purdue is 11-2 or better through 13 games for the fifth time in coach Matt Painter's 12 seasons at his alma mater, led by a 13-0 start by the 2009-10 team.
Jonathan Wade had 13 points to lead the Spartans. He came in averaging 20. The Spartans are 0-10 against current members of the Big Ten.
BIG PICTURE
Norfolk State: The Spartans have beaten only one Division I opponent - Eastern Kentucky - and are woefully undersized when playing a Power 5 conference opponent with the size and strength Purdue features.
Purdue: As it has done throughout its six-game December winning streak, the Boilermakers continue to pound the ball inside to the 6-foot-8 Swanigan and the 7-2 Haas, whose size is too much for almost all mid-majors.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State: The Spartans do not play again until a Dec. 30 trip to Bowling Green.
Purdue: The Boilermakers are off until Dec. 28 when they begin Big Ten play against Iowa at Mackey Arena.