WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Carsen Edwards scored 30 points and Ryan Cline added 19 as the Purdue Boilermakers broke out of an offensive funk and ran away from Ohio 95-67 on Thursday.
The Boilermakers (7-5) ended a two-game losing streak and won only the second time in six games.
Ben Vander Plas made four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points to lead Ohio (7-4), which had won five of its previous six. Teyvion Kirk also had 15 points.
Purdue coach Matt Painter made a rare change in the Boilermakers first home game in two starting weeks, moving Evan Boudreaux into the starting lineup and bringing center Matt Haarms off the bench as he did last season.
And the switch worked wonders for a struggling offense.
While Edwards and Cline combined for nine 3s, Haarms energized the second unit and helped spur Purdue on a 17-0 run that allowed them to take a 27-7 lead.
After Ohio answered with six straight points, the Boilermakers scored seven in a row and weathered a late 3-point flurry from Ohio’s Ben Vander Plas to take a 49-36 halftime lead.
Jason Preston opened the second half with a 3-pointer to get the Bobcats within 49-39, but Purdue sealed the win with a 15-2 run that made it 70-45 with 11:33 to play.
BIG PICTURE
Ohio: The young Bobcats couldn’t keep up with the bigger, more athletic Boilermakers. But when it looked like they might get blown out early, Ohio fought its way back into contention. It could be a good sign for the future.
Purdue: The Boilermakers desperately needed a change and they got it by driving to the basket to open up the perimeter. If they continue playing this efficiently on offense, they should be just fine. But they still need to tighten up the 3-point defense.
STAT PACK
Ohio: Allowed a season high point total. … Doug Taylor played just 19 minutes because of foul trouble and finished with six points and four rebounds. … The Bobcats had a 9-6 advantage in offensive rebounds but wound up losing the overall battle 36-27.
Purdue: Eric Hunter Jr. had 13 points. … Haarms had four points and four rebounds. … Purdue was 14 of 29 on 3s, matching its highest single-game total of 3s made this season. … The Boilermakers topped the 90-point mark for the first since Nov. 15 and wound up with a season-best point total.
UP NEXT
Ohio: Returns home to face Florida International on Dec. 30 before opening Mid-American Conference play.
Purdue: Closes out the nonconference schedule on Dec. 29 when it hosts Belmont.
PURDUE 95, OHIO 67
OHIO (7-4)
Taylor 1-4 4-4 6, Carter 3-10 0-0 7, Cowart 2-5 0-0 5, Preston 1-3 0-2 2, Kirk 5-10 5-8 15, McMurray 0-1 0-0 0, Vander Plas 4-9 3-4 15, Murrell 4-8 0-1 9, James 0-1 0-0 0, Block 3-5 0-0 8. Totals 23-56 12-19 67.
PURDUE (7-5)
Boudreaux 0-4 3-4 3, Eifert 3-4 0-0 8, Eastern 3-3 0-0 6, Edwards 10-16 6-7 30, Cline 7-11 0-0 19, King 0-0 0-0 0, Haarms 2-4 0-0 4, Williams 2-6 1-2 5, Wheeler 1-3 2-2 5, Stefanovic 1-2 0-0 2, Luce 0-1 0-0 0, Hunter 5-6 1-1 13. Totals 34-60 13-16 95.
Halftime—Purdue 49-36. 3-Point Goals—Ohio 9-24 (Vander Plas 4-9, Block 2-4, Carter 1-1, Murrell 1-3, Cowart 1-4, McMurray 0-1, James 0-1, Preston 0-1), Purdue 14-29 (Cline 5-8, Edwards 4-9, Eifert 2-3, Hunter 2-3, Wheeler 1-3, Stefanovic 0-1, Haarms 0-1, Boudreaux 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Ohio 25 (Preston 5), Purdue 33 (Williams 8). Assists—Ohio 11 (Preston 5), Purdue 23 (Edwards 5). Total Fouls—Ohio 14, Purdue 17.