Northwestern's Winning Streak Snapped at Purdue, 87-77

2/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Feb. 12, 2012

Box Score | Photo Gallery

Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Mackey Arena)
Score: Purdue 87, Northwestern 77
Records: NU (15-9, 5-7 Big Ten), Purdue (16-9, 6-6 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Wednesday, Feb. 15 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), 5:30 p.m. CT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- John Shurna scored 23 of his game-high 30 points in the second half, but Purdue was able to out-score Northwestern in a shootout after the break as the Boilermakers snapped the Wildcats' three-game winning streak 87-77 at Mackey Arena Sunday evening.

Following a rugged first half, both teams posted over 50 points in the second stanza. It was the sixth 30-plus point game of Shurna's career and moved him to within 45 points of Billy McKinney for the top spot on NU's career scoring list.

Both offenses struggled in the opening half, but it was Purdue that jumped out to an early 7-2 lead. However, behind a 3-pointer and another basket by Fort Wayne native Reggie Hearn the Wildcats took their first lead at 10-8.

Robbie Hummel, who was perhaps the lone player with a hot hand in the first stanza, gave Purdue a 16-12 lead when he got a bucket with 11:16 remaining. Hummel posted 13 first-half points on 5-of-7 shooting, including making a trio of triples.

A 3-pointer by Alex Marcotullio and a coast-to-coast lay-in by Dave Sobolewski gave Northwestern the lead back at 17-16 with eight minutes left in the period. The teams would continue to battle back and forth as Sobolewski's trey with 2:10 left tied the game, 23-23.

The teams would trade baskets before the Boilermakers finished the half on a 6-1 run to take a 31-26 led at the break. NU shot 36 percent from the field (9-25) over the opening 20 minutes of play, while Purdue heated up late to shoot 34.3 percent (12-35).

The Boilermakers pushed their lead to seven early in the second half, but Hearn helped the 'Cats come back by scoring seven early points. Drew Crawford also had six early points, including getting two on a slam dunk that knotted things at 39-39.

D.J. Byrd was able to get loose, though, scoring eight consecutive points for Purdue as the hosts went back up 47-42, forcing NU to burn a timeout with 13:21 remaining. Northwestern would respond with three straight hoops, including a backdoor layup by Hearn that gave the Wildcats the lead right back, 48-47.

Shurna's layup would tie the game 57-57, but consecutive triples by Terone Johnson and Byrd pushed Purdue's advantage back up to six with just under six minutes left.

The deficit was seven when Shurna drilled a tough 3-pointer from in front of the NU bench to get the Wildcats within 65-61 with 4:42 remaining. However, Northwestern was unable to get enough defensive stops down the stretch to make it all the way back as Purdue iced the game at the free throw line.

Northwestern connected on 19 of its 32 field goal attempts in the second half (59.4 percent) but it wasn't enough. Hearn posted 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds in his home state. Crawford (14) and Sobolewski (12) also finished in double figures.

Hummel paced the Boilermakers with 27 points - including going 12-for-14 from the free throw line - and nine rebounds. Byrd chipped in with 20 points.

Northwestern returns to action Wednesday as it travels to Indiana. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. Central time.

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