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Purdue puts clamps on Valparaiso

Dec 29, 2008 - 1:58 AM WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Ticker) -- Purdue appears to be ready for Big Ten Conference play.

E'Twaun Moore scored 14 points and Robbie Hummel added nine and 11 rebounds as No. 15 Purdue won its sixth straight game with a 59-45 victory over Valparaiso on Sunday.

The Boilermakers (11-2) did not have their best offensive performance, but limited the Crusaders to just 33 percent (15-of-45) shooting and forced 17 turnovers.

One of the favorites to win the Big Ten, Purdue opens conference play on Tuesday against Illinois.

Purdue struggled to find its range early and the teams were tied at 9-9 with 9:27 left in the first half.

Moore hit a pair of 3-pointers as Purdue took a slim lead, but Valparaiso stayed close and only trailed, 27-25, at the break.

The Boilermakers went 4-of-5 from the arc to open the second half, taking a 41-31 lead with 14:24 left to play.

Valparaiso got back within six but went scoreless for over five minutes as Purdue extended the lead to 46-35 with 9:44 remaining. The Crusaders never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

Purdue shot a season-low 36 percent (20-of-55) from the floor, but held Valparaiso to 28 percent (7-of-25) over the game's final 20 minutes.

"The ball just didn't go in," Moore said. "We had a lot of open shots but didn't knock them down (in the first half). The second half, we knocked a few more down but still didn't shoot well."

JaJuan Johnson scored 10 points and Bobby Riddell added nine points for the Boilermakers, who were without reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Chris Kramer due to injury.

It was the ninth time this season that Purdue allowed less than 60 points.

Jake Diebler and Urule Igbavboa each scored 13 points to lead Valparaiso (3-9), which has lost five straight games.

"I was really proud of our effort and defensive intensity today," Crusaders coach Homer Drew said. "It's a great accomplishment to hold Purdue to just 59 points. You have to give credit to Purdue and their defense, though. They not only make it tough to get good shots, but also make it tough to even just pass the ball and get into an offense."