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Purdue's off-court problems added to challenge of facing Michigan State.
The Purdue Boilermakers are hosting the No. 7 Michigan St. Spartans at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette in a Big Ten matchup. The Boilermakers look to keep their winning record alive in the Big Ten, as they enter the game with a 7-6 record in conference play. They're without a couple of key players following a suspension and a dismissal for an off-court incident earlier this week. They're off to a solid start in the game, as they lead 38-35 entering halftime.
Through one half of play, the Boilermakers are proving that they will not go quietly. They have kept the game close and clawed back to within a basket every time the Spartans threatened to open a sizable lead. In the last few minutes of the half, Purdue jumped out to a 35-33 lead.
Robbie Hummel is leading all scorers with 18 points and six rebounds.
For updates and perspective on the Purdue Boilermakers, please visit Hammer and Rails or SB Nation Indiana. For all news and information on the Michigan State Spartans, check out The Only Colors or SB Nation Detroit. For complete coverage of the NCAA basketball season, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated college hoops hub.
The Purdue Boilermakers (17-9, 7-6) host the hottest team in the Big Ten on Sunday afternoon when the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans (21-5, 10-3) visit Mackey Arena.
After two consecutive wins, Purdue seemed to have their season back on track and headed toward post-season play, but things went off the rails off the court early Friday morning when an incident at a local watering hole left utility wing D.J. Byrd suspended for Michigan State and guard Kelsey Barlow dismissed from the team outright.
Like the Boilers, Byrd's play was trending in a positive direction and a big reason for the team's improved play. He had worked his way into the starting lineup and scored in double-figures in each of the last five games. During that stretch Byrd knocked down 18 of 34 three-point attempts.
Even without the internal turmoil, Purdue would have their hands full with Michigan State. The Spartans look to maintain their spot atop the Big Ten standings which they earned during their recent four-game winning streak that in includes wins over No. 23 Michigan, at No. 3 Ohio State and No. 15 Wisconsin.
With Michigan's win over Ohio State on Saturday night, Michigan State will sit alone in first place with a win today. The Spartans should be able to expose Purdue's struggles with front court play with a heavy dose of Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Draymond Green and Derrick Nix using their bulk to carve out room around the rim.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 1:00 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS.
For more on the Purdue Boilermakers, check out Hammer and Rails. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.
Michigan State Vs. Purdue Final Score: Boilermakers Fall To Spartans, 75-62
The Purdue Boilermakers hosted the Michigan St. Spartans in Big Ten action on Sunday afternoon, hoping to turn around their rough week with an upset win to stay above .500 in the conference. Through the first half, it looked like they might be able to pull it off, but ultimately fell to the Spartans by a final score of 75-62.
The Boilermakers entered halftime leading by a score of 38-32, but after the break, Michigan State took over in a big way. They opened up a 10-point lead in short order and Purdue was never really able to get back into it. Purdue forward Robbie Hummel led all scorers with 24 points in the losing effort, picking up the big double-double with 15 rebounds.
With the loss, Purdue falls to 7-7 in the Big Ten, with an overall record of 17-10. They will play their next game on Wednesday, Feb. 22 as they host the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
For updates and perspective on the Purdue Boilermakers, please visit Hammer and Rails or SB Nation Indiana. For all news and information on the Michigan State Spartans, check out The Only Colors or SB Nation Detroit. For complete coverage of the NCAA basketball season, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated college hoops hub.
Feb 19 3:08p by SundownMotel