Michigan Muscled By Purdue In Big Ten Semifinal, 76-59
TERRY HUTCHENS
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A.J. Hammons had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 13 Purdue beat Michigan 76-59 on Saturday to advance to the Big Ten Tournament championship.
Hammons made 11 of 17 shots, mostly from inside. Vince Edwards added 13 points, and Isaac Haas finished with 11.
Next up for Purdue (26-7) is the winner of the second semifinal between Michigan State and Maryland. The Boilermakers have won five in a row and are going for their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2009.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led Michigan with 15 points. Derrick Walton Jr. scored 14 points and Zak Irvin had 11.
Coming off victories over Northwestern and No. 1 seed Indiana, the eighth-seeded Wolverines (22-12) were playing their third game in three days.
No. 4 seed Purdue scored the first eight points of the game and the first nine of the second half. It enjoyed a comfortable double-digit lead for most of the afternoon, but Walton's three-point play got Michigan within six with 7:35 remaining.
The Boilermakers responded with a 16-3 run to put the game away. Edwards made a 3-pointer and Rapheal Davis and P.J. Thompson each made two foul shots to make it 76-57 with 50 seconds remaining,
Purdue dominated inside, with 22 of its 29 field goals coming in the paint. The Boilermakers had a 44-28 edge in points in the paint.
TIP-INS
Michigan: The Wolverines had lost four of their last five heading into the Big Ten Tournament. ... Irvin was 1 for 7 from 3-point range as Michigan went 6 for 25 from beyond the arc. ... The Wolverines were outrebounded 41-26.
Purdue: For the second day in a row, Purdue faced a team that had played three games in three days — Illinois on Friday and Michigan on Thursday. ... Purdue is 17-0 this season when playing in weekend games.
UP NEXT
Michigan: The Wolverines are on the bubble for when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on Sunday.
Purdue: The Boilermakers advance to the Big Ten title game on Sunday against the winner of Michigan State and Maryland.
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