WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Isaac Haas is starting to become a pain for opposing teams.
He followed up Friday’s Big Ten opener at Maryland scoring 26 points, including the go ahead basket with under a minute to play, to lead the Purdue Boilermakers to a 74-69 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday.
There were 12 ties and 13 leads changes, Hass providing the last one as the Boilermakers scored the last seven points in this intense game between two teams that were both ranked in the Top 25 at the start of the season.
“The last two games he’s been huge for us,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “I thought the Maryland game he made good decisions at the end, even after they came after him. His ability to kind of close out the game and make plays, any miss there down the stretch probably would have cost us the game. He was either able to get fouled or make a play.”
Haas finished 8-of-13 shooting, and 10 of 14 from the free throw line and had nine rebounds. Ryan Cline added 13 points, and Vincent Edwards had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Boilermakers (7-2, 2-0 Big Ten), who have won four straight.
It was a physically game, too, but not called as evenly as Northwestern head coach Chris Collins would have liked. Purdue was 16 of 24 from the free throw line. The Wildcats only made five attempts from the line and scored on three.
“I have to make it quick,” Collins said in his press conference following the game. “Dererk Pardon’s getting stitches for Haas putting his elbow in his face, so, I gotta get back there. But (we) only shot three free throws.”
Pardon had 20 points and eight rebounds, Scottie Lindsey had 17 points and Vic Law finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (5-4, 1-1), who have lost two of three games.
When asked if he were joking about Pardon getting stitches, Collins said, “No he’s bleeding. Haas made a post move and put his elbow right through his mouth. I guess we didn’t want to check the monitor for that one.”
Team officials later said Pardon did not receive stitches.
Haas’ basket with 44 seconds to play gave Purdue a 71-69 lead after he tied the game at 69 and Edwards grabbed a steal with a minute to go.
BIG PICTURE
Northwestern: The Wildcats have lost five straight to the Boilermakers in the only meeting between the two teams this season, but can get back on track with two of the next three games at home.
Purdue: The Boilermakers are now 2-0 after two early games in league play to cap off a big week which also included a win over Louisville.
PHYSICAL PLAY
Collins also said Purdue is the most physical team in the Big Ten, a claim that Painter wasn’t sure he agreed with, and one that Edwards said he wanted to make sure Purdue’s coaches knew.
“Make sure you tell our coaches that so they’ll get off our backs about it,” Edwards joked. “Tell Chris (Collins) that we appreciate you, Coach.”
UP NEXT
Northwestern is off for a week and will host Chicago State next Monday.
Purdue will host in-state opponent Valparaiso on Thursday.
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