No. 15 Purdue take on Norfolk State for first time (Dec 21, 2016)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The last time No. 15 Purdue and Norfolk State were playing in the same college basketball venue, the Boilermakers defeated St. Mary's (Calif.) before losing to Kansas in 2012 NCAA tournament action in Omaha while the Spartans stunned No. 2 seed Missouri and then lost to Florida.
Purdue (10-2) and Norfolk State (3-9) will have a bit of a reunion Wednesday night in Mackey Arena, where they actually will play each other for the first time.
The Spartans, who are led by guard Jonathan Wade (20 points a game), are coming off Monday night's 87-80 overtime victory against Eastern Kentucky, getting 25 from Wade in snapping an eight-game losing streak while beating a Division I opponent for the first time this season.
"I feel like that was huge for us, just getting that first DI win," Norfolk State fourth-year coach Robert Jones said. "It brings our spirits up. I know we're just still 3-9, but it's a step forward in the right direction and it feels good."
Purdue will be Norfolk State's eighth Big Ten opponent all-time, including two losses each to Maryland and Rutgers. In all, the Spartans, who average 67 points and allow 73.2, are 0-9 against Big Ten opponents.
The Boilermakers are coming off their fifth consecutive victory, an 82-50 drubbing of Western Illinois on Monday night, a game in which power forward Caleb Swanigan, 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas and 6-8 small forward Vince Edwards combined for 55 points, 33 rebounds and eight assists, making 17 of 32 field goal attempts and 18 of 20 free throws.
Swanigan produced his ninth double-double -- 21 points and 21 rebounds -- in 12 games, Haas had 18 points and six rebounds and Edwards amassed 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
In Saturday's Crossroads Classic victory against No. 25 Notre Dame, Swanigan had 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Edwards added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Throughout parts of November and December, Swanigan struggled with turnovers, Haas battled problems at the free throw line and Edwards endured a six-game stretch from Nov. 18 through Dec. 3 during which he averaged only 8.7 points, making only 18 of 47 field goal attempts (38.3 percent). Those declining numbers cost Edwards his starting spot.
But in his four most recent games, Edwards is averaging 15.8 points, making 23 of 37 field goal attempts (62.2 percent).
Those are encouraging signs as Purdue will open Big Ten Conference play on Dec. 28 against Iowa in Mackey Arena.
"When you have guys like Vince that can go inside and outside, and they're hitting shots from the outside and grabbing rebounds, opponents don't know who to guard," Haas said. "You have me and (Swanigan) on the inside working in tandem on the high-lows, and the other guy is getting the rebounds.
"You have Vince getting the long rebounds and hitting the outside shots. It's demoralizing to the other team. I had been in a little bit of a funk, which was frustrating, but I am getting it back like I always do."
Purdue coach Matt Painter likes the way his front line is playing, led by leading scorer and rebounder Swanigan, who on Monday was selected Big Ten Player of the Week.
"He has a knack for getting the basketball, and when you combine that with big-time effort, it's often going to be your night," Painter said. "All three of those guys were really good Monday night. Vince is really making good decisions right now, and Isaac is making his free throws."
Entering the Norfolk State game, Swanigan is averaging 17.2 points and 11.9 rebounds, Haas is averaging 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds and Edwards is averaging 12 points and 5.3 rebounds.
