Field Level Media
Jan 30, 2021
Brandon Newman scored 21 of his game-high 29 points in the second half Saturday night as Purdue erased a 14-point first-half deficit in an 81-62 Big Ten Conference win over No. 21 Minnesota at West Lafayette, Ind.
Newman sealed the victory by banking in one of his five 3-pointers as the shot clock expired with 1:48 remaining, making it 74-59. The Boilermakers (12-6, 7-4 Big Ten) shot 60.0 percent from the field in the second half, including a white-hot 8 of 10 on 3-pointers.
Trevion Williams added 17 points and 14 rebounds for Purdue, helping the Boilermakers to a 44-27 rebounding advantage. Mason Gillis chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.
Liam Robbins scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Golden Gophers (11-6, 4-6), who are in danger of dropping out of the top 25 after a second consecutive double-figure loss to an unranked opponent.
Brandon Johnson added 11 points and reserve Eric Curry contributed 10, but 20.9 points-per-game scorer Marcus Carr couldn't get on track. Carr hit just 2-of-13 shots from the field and finished with six points. All of Minnesota's defeats this season have been by at least 10 points.
Minnesota controlled most of the first half, but in unexpected fashion. Carr didn't score a point, but was able to get others involved as a facilitator in the offense with four assists.
When Johnson ripped the ball from 7-foot-4 freshman Zach Edey and converted in transition, the Gophers owned a 24-10 lead with 9:24 left in the half. Purdue spent the remainder of the half making inroads into the margin.
Beginning with a jumper by Newman at the 9:04 mark, the Boilermakers outscored Minnesota 20-11 for the half's remainder. A big key was getting to the foul line. Purdue made 10 of 11 at the free throw line in that span.
Aaron Wheeler's putback of Williams' miss with 32 seconds remaining enabled the Boilermakers to head for the locker room trailing just 35-30. Purdue took the lead less than five minutes into the second half at 40-39 and never trailed again.
--Field Level Media