Michigan State University
Purdue
Michigan State Falls to Purdue, 80-63
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) Caleb Swanigan had 24 points and 15 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of the season, Isaac Haas added 18 points and the No. 16 Boilermakers beat Michigan State 80-63 on Saturday.
The big men combined to make 15 of 23 field goal attempts and 11 of 12 free throws against the Spartans.
The Boilermakers (22-5, 11-3) took a half-game lead over Maryland and Wisconsin. The Terrapins and Badgers, who play Sunday in Madison, are 10-3.
Michigan State got 14 points from Miles Bridges, who had 33 in the January loss to Purdue.
Two free throws by Dakota Mathias, a short jumper from Spike Albrecht and a dunk by Haas capped a 6-0 run and gave the Boilermakers a 57-39 lead with 11:47 remaining, prompting a Michigan State timeout.
''I told Matt (Painter) before the game that they might be playing the most consistent basketball in the Big Ten and that they also are one of the most consistent teams in the nation,'' Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. ''Their defense is getting a little better.''
Swanigan, who has established the school single-season rebounding record with 352, said the Boilermakers took advantage of foul trouble to Spartan big men Nick Ward and Kenny Goins.
''It's just the way we play,'' Swanigan said. ''We feed the ball inside. We look to score. In the post is the hardest place to play defense because we're close to the basket. We try to take advantage of that.''
Consecutive three-point plays from Vince Edwards and Carsen Edwards extended the Purdue lead to 45-29 with 18:04 remaining.
Purdue outscored Michigan State 15-6 during the first half's final 7:51 to lead 37-26, shooting 57.7 percent (15 of 26) and getting 11 points, six rebounds and two assists from Swanigan.
The Boilermakers outscored the Spartans 20-10 in the paint before halftime.
UP NEXT:
Michigan State: Plays host to Nebraska on Thursday.
