Nov. 24, 2007
Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue (3-0) used a 12-0 run early in the game to take control and never looked back en route to an 84-53 victory over Loyola University Chicago (2-2) this afternoon at Mackey Arena. The Ramblers, who turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 19 times on the day, were led by junior guard J.R. Blount, who tallied a team-high 17 points to reach double figures for the fourth time in as many games this season.
Loyola jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead, but a basket by Robbie Hummel ignited a 12-0 Purdue run that gave the host Boilermakers a 14-5 lead they would never relinquish. That advantage would grow to as many as 16 points (25-9) in the opening period, but the tough-minded Ramblers clawed their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to eight (34-26) on Blount's three-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired.
A Nemanja Calasan bucket pushed Purdue's lead back to double digits, but a pair of free throws from Ross Forman brought Loyola back within eight points with just over a minute left in the half. E'Twaun Moore's three-pointer just before the buzzer provided Purdue with a 39-28 lead at the intermission and stemmed the tide of the late Rambler rally.
Purdue opened the second half with a 17-8 run that built the lead to 20 points, 56-36 with 11:37 remaining in the contest and the Boilermakers never looked back from that point forward.
Blount hit 6 of 11 shots from the field and all four of his attempts from the foul line en route to 17 points to pace Loyola's attack. Forman chipped in 11 points to reach double digits for the third time in four outings this season. Three Rambler freshmen, Kyle Thomas (3 points), Geoff McCammon (2 points) and Ryan Sterling (1 rebound) made their Loyola debuts in the game.
Purdue received 18 points from Moore and 15 points from Scott Martin.
Loyola, which has dropped consecutive games to non-Horizon League foes for the first time since December 2004, is back in action when it hosts in-state rival Bradley on Nov. 28.
