Purdue comes out on top in Champaign

The Illini drop their first home game of the season and second straight in the Big Ten 84-78 at the hands of Purdue. It looked good early as the offense was active without the ball, but the Illini could only manage a 4 point lead by halftime. Both Painter and Weber agreed after the game that Purdue was lucky to be down by only that much. "I thought the game could have been determined in the first half," Weber said after the game, "They were doubting a little bit and the chance was there to take the game, but we didn't do it."
Coming into the game, one of my key points was to shut down Hummel and Moore... but they weren't the problem. They did both break double digits, but if you would have offered me before the game to lock in less than 30 points between the two, I would have taken it... The biggest problem came from a guy who wasn't on the scouting report... hell he wasn't even in the scorer's book! Illinois was awarded 2 shots and the ball after Matt Painter sent freshman guard John Hart into the game without putting him on the team roster coming into the game. Hart has only scored in one game this year, entered play averaging 1.1 points per contest... but that didn't matter as he posted 14 points, none bigger than the six that came on threes in the second half seemingly each time the Illini started a run. After the game, Painter was asked about Hart getting a chance tonight, and the response was simple, "His work ethic has really gotten much better".
Weber seemed disappointed that his guys couldn't hang onto the lead from the first half, but what troubled him even more was how it happened. "56 points in a half is way too many to give up on your own court, that and shooting fewer free throws than your opponent... it just can't happen".

Quick Hits

Demetri McCamey led the Illini with a season and game high 28 points and nine assists. Over the last four games, McCamey is averaging 21.8 points and 7 assists. Tonight was also his seventh time this season to break 20 points.

McCamey also got to the free throw line 19 times, eclipsing his previous career-high of 16 free throws set this year at Indiana.

Mike Davis picked up his Big Ten leading ninth double-double of the season, recording 17 points and 15 rebounds. Davis matches his double-double total from last season and now is tied with Ohio State's Evan Turner for most in his career among active Big Ten players.

Davis also set his record for rebounds in a half, pulling in 11 during the first half of play.

D.J. Richardson turned it on late, scoring all 12 of his points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.

Bill Cole blocked a career high 3 shots.