No. 4 Purdue 67, Iowa 56: Boilermakers Need Big Second Half

December 29, 2009 - Iowa City, IA (Sports Network) - E’Twaun Moore scored a game-high 21 points and squashed a late Iowa run with a three-point play, as Purdue upended the Hawkeyes, 67-56, in the Big Ten opener for both clubs.

Robbie Hummel recorded 16 points and eight rebounds for the Boilermakers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who need two more wins to match the program-record 14-0 start set in 1993-94.

The winning streak will be tested on New Year’s Day, when Purdue hosts No. 6 and fellow unbeaten West Virginia.

Aaron Fuller recorded 15 points and eight rebounds for Iowa (5-8, 0-1), which has lost six straight to Purdue. Eric May chipped in 11 points and eight boards in a losing cause, as the Hawkeyes failed to build off their first two- game winning streak of the season.

Purdue trailed at the half, 27-26, but shot 65.2 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes to pull away.

Moore’s three-pointer from the right wing with 13 1/2 minutes left in regulation gave the visitors a 41-34 edge. Four minutes later, back-to-back makes from long range by Keaton Grant and Mark Wohlford finished off 10 straight Purdue points, yielding a 53-38 cushion.

Jarryd Cole’s putback had Iowa’s deficit down to 59-49 with five minutes remaining, and two May free throws on the next possession capped an 8-0 spurt for the hosts.

Moore, though, answered with a three-point play to make it a double-digit game again, silencing the crowd and propelling the Boilermakers to another victory.

Purdue came out sluggish thanks to a week off, trailing 10-2 following Fuller’s make from long distance three minutes in.

The Boilermakers battled back and tied things, 20-20, on two Moore free throws near the five-minute mark, though they trailed by one at the break.

Iowa, which next plays against Minnesota on Saturday, was without second- leading scorer Anthony Tucker, who missed his second game since being suspended following an arrest for public intoxication...Hummel made his first four free throws to extend his streak to 36 straight, breaking Jerry Sichting’s school record (34) set during the 1978-79 campaign.. The Boilermakers lead the all-time series, 81-70.

For more on the Boilermakers visit SB Nation’s Hammer And Rails. For Hawkeyes’ news and analysis, Black Heart Gold Pants is the place to go.