Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Purdue (Boilermaker BlockBuster)
Chippewas Fall To No. 16 Purdue
12/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2003
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - No. 16-ranked Purdue rebounded from its first loss of the season on Thursday to defeat Central Michigan University, 80-39, in Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday.
Purdue's defense held the Chippewas (2-5) to their lowest point total in 17 years, matching the 1986-87 squad that dropped a 53-39 decision at St. Mary's (Calif.).
CMU shot just 15 percent from the floor in the first half. After Gerrit Brigitha opened the game's scoring with a jumper, the Boilermakers (7-1) went on runs of 12-0 and 11-0 to jump out to a 23-5 lead.
Purdue led 32-12 at the half and then went on a 21-0 run early in the second frame.
The physical Boilermaker defense held the Chippewas to a 22 percent field goal mark for the game while Purdue forced 24 CMU turnovers and blocked nine Chippewa shots.
Purdue's offense was efficient with a .517 field goal percentage.
Brandon Voorhees led CMU with 11 points while Gerrit Brigitha had nine points and four rebounds.
Brandon McKnight tallied 13 points and five assists to lead Purdue and Kenneth Lowe added 13 points. Ivan Kartelo had eight points and 11 boards off the bench for the Boilermakers.
The Chippewas are now off for a week before facing Michigan next Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m., in Ann Arbor.
NOTES:
* Kevin Nelson, CMU's leading scorer, was held to just eight points. He missed his first seven shots and scored all of his points in the second half. Nelson tied a career high with three assists.
* The 41-point setback tied CMU's largest margin of defeat under head coach Jay Smith. CMU lost at Ball State, 99-58, in 1997-98.
* CMU is now 0-4 in neutral site games this season.
* The loss snapped CMU's three-game winning streak in NBA arenas. The Chippewas won three games in last year's Mid-American Conference tournament in Cleveland's Gund Arena, home of the Cavaliers.
* T.J. Meerman had four fouls in the first half and did not play in the second.
