WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Eastern Michigan got Purdue’s attention, and then it was over.
The Eagles jumped to an 8-0 lead on the 11th-ranked Boilermakers on Monday night.
Sufficiently awakened, Purdue responded with a 26-6 run and never was challenged after that as Robbie Hummel scored 18 points in the Boilermakers’ 87-58 victory over Eastern Michigan in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Purdue called a timeout after Eastern Michigan made its first four shots, and the Boilermakers dominated from there. Reserve Marcus Green scored all six points in a run that turned a 10-7 deficit into a 13-10 lead.
“Once Coach called time out and we got back out there, I felt we brought another level to the game,” Green said. “Coach (Matt Painter) said ‘We’ve got to have some energy,’ and we turned it around right there.”
The Boilermakers (2-0) will play Loyola of Chicago in the second round on Tuesday. Loyola defeated Georgia 74-53 on Monday night.
After its hot start, Eastern Michigan shot 7-for-27 from the field the rest of the first half and missed all seven of its 3-point attempts. The Eagles even went 0-for-4 from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes.
“I’ve not seen that defense since I left the Big Ten about four years ago,” said Eastern Michigan coach Charles Ramsey, a former assistant at Michigan. “That was good, solid Big Ten defense. That’s what you see from the Michigan States and the Wisconsins. We don’t get that on a day-to-day basis, and it was good for us because I wanted to see how our kids responded to that.”
Purdue methodically built its lead to 42-22 as Chris Kramer had 10 points in the first half to lead nine Boilermakers who scored.
E’Twaun Moore had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists for Purdue. He didn’t start the opener Friday against Detroit Mercy, but led the team that night with 18 points as a reserve. He regained his starting job Monday and delivered in similar fashion.
“I think he’s done a good job for us, and when he lets things come to him, he’s very dangerous—not just as a scorer but as in a lot of areas,” Painter said. “You look at his line, and it was just a good, overall game for him.”
Justin Dobbins scored 16 points and Brandon Bowdry added 15 for Eastern Michigan (1-1). It was Eastern Michigan’s worst defeat since a 36-point loss to Kent State on Feb. 3, 2007.
Eastern Michigan scored 119 points in a season-opening win over Marygrove, but Purdue held the Eagles to 39 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers. Eastern Michigan was 9-for-19 from the free throw line and 3-for-14 from 3-point range
“We basically feed off our defense,” Green said. “I think that’s what drives this team. Coach has made that a major emphasis. We want to get in the passing lanes, we want to get to loose balls, we want to get down and dirty, and I think that’s why we play so well. We love it.”
Purdue, which committed just three turnovers in their season-opening 82-50 win, had three in the first half against the Eagles and finished with 10. Painter has said he wants his team to rank in the top 15 in the nation for fewest turnovers per game.
Purdue led by 20 points at halftime, then made its first 10 shots after the break to put the game out of reach. The Boilermakers shot 55 percent in the second half. A steal and dunk by Hummel made it 58-32 with 15 minutes to play.
Now, the Boilermakers have a short timeframe to prepare for their next game.
“It’s a quick turnaround, a quick scout, so it’s a matter of getting guys focused,” Painter said. “You don’t have time to practice on a game day, so you’re watching film and basically you just have to go out and play.”
