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Hummel, Purdue outlast Indiana State

Dec 14, 2008 - 12:31 AM WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Ticker) -- Robbie Hummel scored 20 of his career-high 25 points in the second half as 17th-ranked Purdue pulled away from Indiana State after halftime en route to a 76-62 triumph on Saturday.

JaJuan Johnson had 12 points and freshman Lewis Jackson added 11 for Purdue (8-2), which has won three straight games after consecutive losses.

"Right now, we're kind of hit and miss and we have to get some consistency," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "Whether the ball goes in or not, it really doesn't matter. But we have to have a big-time effort and we have be sharp mentally, especially from a defensive standpoint."

The Sycamores (1-8) hung tough in the first half, trailing just 37-30 entering the break. But after Indiana State cut the deficit to four, Purdue went on 13-0 run to open up a double-digit lead.

Following a first half in which he knocked down just 2-of-7 field-goal attempts, Hummel rebounded in the second 20 minutes to lead the Boilermakers.

The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year hit 5-of-6 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line in the second half. Hummel also grabbed eight rebounds.

"I think we came out with a little more intensity (in the second half)," Hummel said. "I think we just played harder. I don't know why we didn't play as hard in the first half, but that's something we have to address."

The Sycamores led, 20-17, with 11:18 left in the opening half but were held to just two free throws over the next 7:09 as the Boilermakers took the lead for good.

Indiana State committed 24 turnovers and were outscored, 21-9, from the free-throw line.

Harry Marshall had 16 points to lead the Sycamores and Jay Tunnell added 11.

"I thought (Indiana State) played harder than us, I thought they played better than us," Painter said. "We made a couple more plays and obviously we're at home. I think that always helps you."

E'Twaun Moore, the Boilermakers' leading scorer at 15 points a game, was held to a season-low eight points on 2-of-10 shooting.

Purdue has won its last three games by an average of 30.3 points, but will look for its first over a ranked foe when it faces No. 22 Davidson next Saturday. The Boilermakers are 0-2 so far this season against teams in the Top 25, with losses to Duke and Oklahoma.