Purdue fends off Indiana for record 17th straight win
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Isaac Haas and Vincent Edwards keep putting up big numbers for No. 3 Purdue.
They're more concerned with winning. Right now, they can't quibble with the results.
The two seniors combined for 45 points and 12 rebounds Sunday to help the Boilermakers pull away late for a 74-67 victory at Indiana, and a chance to celebrate a school-record 17th consecutive win on the home court of their most bitter rival.
"It's pretty cool to hear about that kind of stuff," Haas said. "But I think our guys are really mature and they do the things they are supposed to do by keeping the focus and understanding it's an everyday grind. You have to come in and work every day."
This victory came with all the trimmings.
Purdue (21-2, 10-0 Big Ten) extended the nation's longest winning streak, set another school record by winning its 12th consecutive conference game, kept pace with Virginia as the only Power Five schools still unbeaten in league play and improved to 20-0 on American soil.
The Boilermakers also moved into a five-way tie for the eighth-longest winning streak in Big Ten history and achieved all of it by beating Indiana (12-10, 5-5) for the sixth time in seven meetings.
Despite having a deeper, more experienced roster and a major size advantage, it still wasn't easy.
For 35 minutes, the Boilermakers found themselves in a cage match. Haas and Edwards changed that.
They combined for the first nine points in the decisive 12-5 run to close the game. Haas matched his career high with 26 points and had five rebounds while Edwards wound up with 19 points and seven rebounds.
"Isaac did a good job for us down low of stepping up and just making baskets down low when we needed them," Edwards said. "He played a big game today."
Juwan Morgan had 24 points and seven rebounds to lead Indiana (12-10, 5-5), which has lost two straight. Robert Johnson added 21 points and six assists on a day the Hoosiers controlled the pace for most of the first 30 minutes.
They still led 53-48 with 11:39 to go.
But Purdue answered with eight straight points and retook the lead on Dakota Mathias' 3-pointer with 10:06 left. Indiana tied it twice after that, the last time coming at 62 with 5:13 to play.
Edwards broke the tie by making 1 of 2 free throws. Haas made two more before scoring on a layup.
All the Hoosiers could muster over the final 4:01 were two layups and a free throw.
"I think we played well enough and hard enough as a team," Johnson said. "But just disappointing. At the end of the day, we've just got to try to find a way to get better."
BIG PICTURE
Purdue: The Boilermakers survived on the road despite not playing their best game. Still, they hung in, battled hard and eventually found a way to grind out their second win in four days -- as good veteran teams often do.
Indiana: The Hoosiers played solid basketball but still have some work to do. They've played two top-five teams this season, Duke and Purdue, and gave both everything they could. Now they need to find a finishing touch.
KEY STATS
Purdue: When the Boilermakers fell into a 14-4 deficit early in the first half, it marked the first time they trailed by more than nine points during the winning streak. ... Haas was 10 of 17 from the field. ... Carsen Edwards scored 10 points. ... The Boilermakers have won seven straight against in-state opponents.
Indiana: Fifth-year senior Collin Hartman missed the game with an injured lower left leg. He could miss the next couple of games, coach Archie Miller said. ... The Hoosiers went more than 10 minutes before committing their first turnover and finished with 10. ... Indiana was 3 of 16 on 3s and 10 of 17 from the free-throw line.
HONORING VICTOR
The Indiana Hoosiers honored one of their former stars, Victor Oladipo, before the game by giving him a framed No. 4 jersey.
Just five days after being named to his first NBA All-Star team, he returned to his alma mater, where he received a standing ovation and heard chants of "Ola-dip-o" and "M-V-P" before he taking his front-row seat. He also had a message.
"I'm a Hoosier, I'll always be a Hoosier," he told the crowd. "I just want to thank you for the three amazing years I had here."
UP NEXT
Purdue: Will go for No. 18 on Wednesday at Maryland.
Indiana: Faces former Butler coach Chris Holtmann on Tuesday at No. 13 Ohio State.
