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DeutschEVANSTON, IL — C.J. Cox's scorching second half helped Purdue men's basketball avoid a third straight loss.
The No. 14 Boilermakers slipped past Northwestern 70-66 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. They had to rally in the final minute to avoid extending their winless streak.
Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the win means.
What I liked in Purdue basketball's win vs Northwestern
Cox got in a groove to start the second half, and it helped pull Purdue back into the lead. Northwestern’s attention to the interior opened Cox up in the corner, and he knocked down a 3-pointer in halfcourt and followed with another off a fast break. The Boilers made their first six shots, and on the possession on which they finally missed, Cox scored on a put-back to cap a 9-0 run and tie the game, 43-43.
Cox scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half, including a big fade-away 3 for a 60-57 lead in the final three minutes. Then came his fourth corner 3 with 48 seconds left for a 68-66 lead.
∎ Purdue avoided disaster when Trey Kaufman-Renn hurt his shoulder but only missed a few second-half possessions. From a box plus-minus standpoint, he was far and away the most valuable player, with his plus-18 nearly doubling anyone else. He finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
∎ Predictably, when Purdue needed a bucket to stop a 13-0 first-half Northwestern run on the road, it came from a Gicarri Harris 3. He made an underrated strong play later in the half, staying under control late in the shot clock to dribble in and dump to Kaufman-Renn for a bucket.
What I disliked in Purdue basketball's win vs Northwestern
Purdue endeavors to commit eight or fewer turnovers per game. It committed its seventh with 3:55 to play in the first half – though an understandable one, when Oscar Cluff lost balance after making an offensive rebound. The eighth came when Fletcher Loyer couldn’t handle a Braden Smith bullet kick-out to the corner.
Almost a third of the points Northwestern scored in the first half came off those turnovers. Even when they weren’t turning the ball over, the Boilers look scrambled at times against ball pressure. The Wildcats had some success doubling Smith to make him give up the ball – he went scoreless in the first half, with only four assists.
∎ Purdue is trending back to a reality where Kaufman-Renn being in foul trouble or needing a break feels like a crisis. Not every matchup presents the same problems as Nick Martinelli, obviously. Matt Painter has mentioned Cluff being “gassed” a lot of late. The big man’s ability to play longer stretches in the second half proved crucial.
∎ Those turnovers add up and chip away at a team's margin for error. So when Northwestern gets a late shot-clock prayer of a 3 by Jordan Clayton with a minute left to retake the lead, those early mistakes and points given away are magnified.
What Purdue basketball's win vs Northwestern means
Purdue's coaches expected a physical and determined effort from Northwestern on Martinelli's senior night. The Boilers did not respond early. They regathered their poise when it mattered in the second half.
It left the same nagging question which followed the win at Nebraska. Does the grit and execution in the final minute merely cancel out the issues which necessitated the rally in the first place?
Purdue clearly needed this win, any win. It still needs a better 40-minute performance. with one game remaining Saturday against Wisconsin to elevate into tournament play.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue vs Northwestern basketball score today, C.J. Cox game stats