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Johnson, Purdue roll past Indiana

Feb 24, 2011 - 5:19 AM Bloomington, IN (Sports Network) - JaJuan Johnson scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds to help No. 8 Purdue defeat in-state rival Indiana, 72-61.

E'Twaun Moore notched 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Boilermakers (23-5, 12-3 Big Ten), who have won five straight including a huge 76-63 win over Ohio State on Sunday.

"It is important as a rivalry standpoint but we are in the running for the Big Ten race and we are trying to hold on," Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. "We need some help, but we need to take care of our own business. Any time there is a rivalry game, you know your team is going to get up for you."

Christian Watford had 18 points and nine rebounds to pace the Hoosiers (12-16, 3-12), who have lost five straight. Jordan Hulls and Verdell Jones III scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, in the loss.

"I think the bottom line in this game is we played very hard, they played very hard and they played very smart," said Indiana head coach Tom Crean. "We didn't always do that. Offensively, they made their close shots and we missed."

Up 49-39 with 13 1/2 minutes left in the game, Hulls scored the next six points on a trey and a three-point play. A few minutes later, Hulls' layup made it a three-point margin, 52-49.

However, the Hoosiers never claimed the lead as they cut it to three one more time following Victor Oladipo's lay-in with 8:40 to go. Purdue responded with a six-point flurry finished by D.J. Byrd's free throw making it 60-51 with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.

The Boilermakers were able to nudge the lead to double digits the remaining four-plus minutes as Indiana never threatened again.

Purdue shot 61.5 percent in the first half and scored the final four points to take a 41-31 lead at the break. The visitors built a 12-point lead before Indiana made its second half push.

Game Notes

Boilermakers own a 112-84 series advantage...Indiana has not beaten a top-10 team at home since defeating No. 10 Michigan State on February 16, 2008...Purdue finished shooting 50 percent from the field, while Indiana made just 38 percent of its shots.