• Box Score / Highlights / Photo Gallery
• Postgame Press Conference via BTN
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There was no drama Saturday.
Spurred by an early second-half surge, No. 15 Purdue men's basketball dropped the curtain on Nebraska, winning 81-62 before another sellout crowd at Mackey Arena.
It was a far cry from the Boilermakers' previous two victories, in overtime at Penn State and in come-from-behind fashion against Minnesota.
Purdue, which led 33-31 at halftime, opened the second half with a 14-4 run over the first five and a half minutes to take control at 47-35. Thereafter, Nebraska got no closer than eight points.
With their eighth consecutive win, the Boilermakers (17-6, 10-2) kept pace with Michigan (11-2) on the loss side atop the Big Ten Conference standings. Michigan State (10-3) remains a game behind in what is shaping up as a three-team race for the regular-season championship.
Grady Eifert was the leading man, scoring a career-high 16 points while making all four of his field goal attempts, including two from 3-point range, and all six of his free throws. He also had a career-high four steals to go with seven rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Late in the game, the Paint Crew was chanting "MVP."
Carsen Edwards topped all players with 27 points, including a 9-for-9 performance from the free throw line. The 6-foot-1 guard also had a rare blocked shot - just his eighth of the season - but it was a jaw-dropper on Nebraska 6-8 forward Tanner Borchardt with four and half minutes remaining.
Two other Boilermakers scored in double figures - Nojel Eastern (12) and Ryan Cline (10). Eastern also cleared 10 rebounds for his third double-double in the last six games. Matt Haarms contributed eight rebounds and four blocks.
Nebraska (13-10, 3-9), which saw its losing streak swell to seven games, led 25-21 with seven minutes left in the first half before the Boilermakers clamped down defensively and limited to the Cornhuskers to six points (a 3-pointer and three free throws) the rest of the way before intermission.
Purdue shot 50.9 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range (8 of 20), and 90.5 percent from the free throw line (19 of 21). The Boilermakers outrebounded the Huskers by a mammoth 39-24 margin.
Thomas Allen had 18 points to pace Nebraska.
Next up for Purdue is a trip to No. 24 Maryland (18-6, 9-4) on Tuesday. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised by BTN. In this season's first meeting, the Boilermakers edged the Terrapins 62-60 at home Dec. 6.
• Postgame Press Conference via BTN
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There was no drama Saturday.
Spurred by an early second-half surge, No. 15 Purdue men's basketball dropped the curtain on Nebraska, winning 81-62 before another sellout crowd at Mackey Arena.
It was a far cry from the Boilermakers' previous two victories, in overtime at Penn State and in come-from-behind fashion against Minnesota.
Purdue, which led 33-31 at halftime, opened the second half with a 14-4 run over the first five and a half minutes to take control at 47-35. Thereafter, Nebraska got no closer than eight points.
With their eighth consecutive win, the Boilermakers (17-6, 10-2) kept pace with Michigan (11-2) on the loss side atop the Big Ten Conference standings. Michigan State (10-3) remains a game behind in what is shaping up as a three-team race for the regular-season championship.
Grady Eifert was the leading man, scoring a career-high 16 points while making all four of his field goal attempts, including two from 3-point range, and all six of his free throws. He also had a career-high four steals to go with seven rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Late in the game, the Paint Crew was chanting "MVP."
Carsen Edwards topped all players with 27 points, including a 9-for-9 performance from the free throw line. The 6-foot-1 guard also had a rare blocked shot - just his eighth of the season - but it was a jaw-dropper on Nebraska 6-8 forward Tanner Borchardt with four and half minutes remaining.
Two other Boilermakers scored in double figures - Nojel Eastern (12) and Ryan Cline (10). Eastern also cleared 10 rebounds for his third double-double in the last six games. Matt Haarms contributed eight rebounds and four blocks.
Nebraska (13-10, 3-9), which saw its losing streak swell to seven games, led 25-21 with seven minutes left in the first half before the Boilermakers clamped down defensively and limited to the Cornhuskers to six points (a 3-pointer and three free throws) the rest of the way before intermission.
Purdue shot 50.9 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range (8 of 20), and 90.5 percent from the free throw line (19 of 21). The Boilermakers outrebounded the Huskers by a mammoth 39-24 margin.
Thomas Allen had 18 points to pace Nebraska.
Next up for Purdue is a trip to No. 24 Maryland (18-6, 9-4) on Tuesday. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised by BTN. In this season's first meeting, the Boilermakers edged the Terrapins 62-60 at home Dec. 6.