BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Rob Phinisee scored a season-high 17 points in the first half and then made the decisive 3-pointer with 16.5 seconds left to send Indiana past No. 4 Purdue 68-65 on Thursday night.
Phinisee finished with a career-best 20 points as the Hoosiers (14-4, 5-3 Big Ten) snapped a nine-game losing streak in the series against their top rival and improved to 12-0 at home this season — sending fans streaming onto the court. Xavier Johnson added 18 points and Phinisee had four steals.
Jaden Ivey scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half for Purdue but missed two potential go-ahead shots in the final seven seconds, including a 3 at the buzzer. Mason Gillis had 13 points and seven rebounds as the Boilermakers (15-3, 4-3) lost for the first time in their last six trips to Assembly Hall.
In a game when All-American hopeful Trayce Jackson-Davis struggled with early foul trouble, Phinisee became the star against his hometown school. He made his first six shots, his first three 3-pointers and came within one point of matching his career high — at halftime.
With Jackson-Davis on the bench and Phinisee leading the way, Indiana methodically erased an early 16-8 deficit and then used a 14-0 run to take a 35-24 lead late in the first half.
Ivey led Purdue back in the second half. The Boilermakers used a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 59-58, and tied the score at 63 on Ivey's mid-range jumper with 3:36 left. And on its third chance to take the lead, Purdue finally did — courtesy of Gillis' layup with 1:08 to go.
But Phinisee won it on a 3 from the corner with 16.9 seconds left. Jackson-Davis added two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining to close out the scoring.
BIG PICTURE
Purdue: Coach Matt Painter has criticized his team's defense most of this season and against Indiana, it finally hurt. Indiana made 10 of its final 17 shots in the first half and key baskets down the stretch. Ten first-half turnovers by the Boilermakers didn't help and that combination, on the road, did in Purdue.
Indiana: The Hoosiers showed their resilience after struggling early and losing Jackson-Davis for most of the game with foul trouble. First-year coach Mike Woodson has been calling on his bench to perform better and nobody took the message to heart more than Phinisee, the junior guard who played his best game since his freshman season. Now comes the big question: Can Indiana continue to build momentum?
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Purdue took advantage of two wins last week — and a bevy of upsets — to return to the top five. It may be a short stay. After escaping with a win at Illinois on Monday, the Boilermakers struggled Thursday. How far they slide may depend on how impressive they look Sunday against Northwestern.
Indiana, meanwhile, has been fighting all season to climb into the Top 25. If the Hoosiers follow this win with another this weekend, they may finally crack the rankings.
UP NEXT
Purdue: Returns home Sunday to face Northwestern.
Indiana: Welcomes Michigan to Assembly Hall on Sunday.
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