No. 5 Purdue 73, Alabama 65: Robbie Hummel Leads Boiler Comeback

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December 12 -Tuscaloosa, AL (Sports Network) - Robbie Hummel ended with 23 points and nine rebounds, as fifth-ranked Purdue erased a large second-half deficit to beat Alabama, 73-65, and stay undefeated.

The Boilermakers (9-0) trailed by nine at halftime and were down by 16 early in the second half. But they chipped away and used a late 10-0 run to take the lead back on the way to the victory in their first true road game of the season.

E’Twaun Moore had 15 points, while Chris Kramer ended with 14 points and provided stifling defense for Purdue down the stretch. He had two key fastbreak layups off steals in the pivotal run, helping the Boilermakers record their first 9-0 start since 1993-94.

Mikhail Torrance had 18 points for the Crimson Tide (6-3), who had won three in a row. JaMychal Green ended with 16 points and eight boards, while Justin Knox scored 14 in the loss.

Purdue faced a 64-59 deficit after Anthony Brock made two free throws for Alabama with just under six minutes to play. The Boilermakers made it a one- possession game at the other end on a tip-in by Kelsey Barlow, and following a traveling call on Torrance, Hummel drained a three to even the game.

Alabama came up empty on its next possession, and D.J. Byrd made a foul shot to put Purdue in front, 65-64. Kramer then stole the ball and converted it into a layup.

After each team missed a shot, Kramer got another steal and fastbreak basket to make it a 69-64 game with 2 1/2 minutes to play. A little more than a minute later, Tony Mitchell made 1-of-2 from the line for Alabama.

But Moore followed with two free throws, and Kramer later made two -- following a third steal -- to ice the game.

The Boilermakers led by four early in the contest, but Alabama followed with a 15-0 run to take control. Torrance and Knox ended the burst with two quick baskets to make it a 24-13 game, and the Tide went into halftime with a 37-28 lead.

That advantage ballooned to 46-30 after they ran off six straight points shortly into the second half, with the final three coming on a layup and free throw from Mitchell.

But a few minutes later, Purdue had an 11-2 run to get back in the game. Hummel ended it with consecutive baskets to bring the Boilermakers within 55-49 midway through the half.

The Boilermakers can equal their third-best start ever with a win next Saturday against Ball State. The school began the 1927-28 season with 10 consecutive wins...JaJuan Johnson had 10 points and nine boards for Purdue.