Jaden Ivey scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the second half and Zach Edey added 13 points to boost No. 3 Purdue to an 84-68 victory against visiting No. 13 Illinois on Tuesday night in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue stretched its winning streak to six to create a three-way tie atop of the Big Ten standings.
The Boilermakers (21-3, 10-3 Big Ten) hold the tiebreaker on the Fighting Illini (17-6, 10-3) after earning a sweep of the regular-season series. No. 14 Wisconsin also is 10-3 in league play. The Badgers have lost to the Illini but defeated the Boilermakers, with a rematch against Purdue looming March 1.
A 21-6 Purdue run midway through Tuesday’s second half helped the hosts seize control and go ahead 75-56 with 6:43 to go.
Kofi Cockburn paced Illinois with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Andre Curbelo (15) and Alfonso Plummer (14) followed in double figures.
Illinois’ Trent Frazier, who returned to the game after clutching his left knee earlier in the second half, was limited to two points on 1-for-7 shooting to go with five assists. Ivey dished a game-high six assists while finishing 10-for-17 from the floor.
Trevion Williams scored 10 points for the Boilermakers. Mason Gillis snagged nine rebounds as Purdue enjoyed a 35-32 edge under the boards.
Purdue shot 50.8 percent compared to 41.4 percent for Illinois, which shot 1-for-10 from deep after halftime following a 7-for-16 start.
Illinois has won 10 of 13, with two losses over that stretch coming to Purdue.
Illinois surged to a 21-12 lead with 10:29 remaining in the first half, only to succumb to a 19-3 Purdue run that vaulted the hosts to 31-24 advantage with 5:46 left before the break.
The Illini responded with a 14-5 run to take a 38-36 lead into halftime, limiting the Boilermakers to a 1-for-9 finish from the floor before intermission.
Purdue swept the season series from Illinois, following up on a 96-88, double-overtime road win on Jan. 17. The Boilermakers are 104-90 against the Illini all-time.
–Field Level Media
