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Davis powers Illinois past Purdue

Feb 8, 2009 - 10:06 PM CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- Mike Davis helped Illinois get back on the winning track.

The forward scored 14 points and added a career-high 16 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season as the 21st-ranked Illini bounced back with a 66-48 victory over No. 13 Purdue on Sunday.

The 6-9 sophomore had nine rebounds by halftime to go along with four points.

"Mike Davis was the difference," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "He's got a good nose for the basketball. He's long and athletic."

Illinois (19-5, 7-4 Big Ten) was coming off a 63-50 loss to Wisconsin on Thursday, but never trailed and pulled away from the Boilermakers in the second half.

The Illini opened the second half with a 9-4 run to take a 41-32 lead, but Purdue fought back with five straight points, including a dunk by JaJuan Johnson, to close to 41-37 at the 13 minute mark.

Then Davis took charge, sandwiching a pair of field goals around two free throws by Dominique Keller as Illinois opened a 49-37 advantage with 10:16 left.

Davis added a jumper with 6:09 remaining, kicking off a 9-0 run by the Illini to push the advantage to 64-43 with just over four minutes left.

Davis admitted being slowed by illness in recent weeks, but said that he has been feeling better of late.

"I'm getting my wind back," Davis said. "I'm getting better and been hitting the weight room a little more and getting stronger and healthier."

Demetri McCamey added 13 points and Chester Frazier added 10 for Illinois.

Purdue (17-6, 6-4) lost its second straight game without Robbie Hummel, who is suffering from a hairline fracture in his back.

Hummel, who averages 12.9 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds, also missed Tuesday's 80-72 overtime loss to Ohio State.

Hummel was cleared to play against the Illini, but has yet to see game action.

"It just doesn't make sense to me (to play him)," Painter said. "His future's more important than the Illinois game."

Without Hummel, Purdue was held to season lows in scoring, a 32.5 shooting percentage (19-of-59) and 3-point shooting (2-of-15).

"The key for us was our defense and our effort," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "We were able to get stops and get out in transition and get the crowd into it, and eventually broke their spirit."

The Boilermakers were paced by Johnson's 17 points and 11 rebounds. Lewis Jackson was the only other Boilermaker in double figures, finishing with 12 points.

Purdue's E'Twaun Moore, who entered the game leading the Boilermakers with 14 points a game, was held to just six while being guarded by Frazier throughout most of the contest.

"We just tried to make them make tough shots," Frazier said. "Stay in front of their players and keep them out of the paint."