Boilers’ vets finish NU

LINCOLN (AP) — The young guys started Purdue on its way to victory over Nebraska. The old guys finished the job.

Senior D.J. Byrd and junior Terone Johnson combined for 17 straight Purdue points during a crucial stretch of the second half that allowed the Boilermakers to withstand the Cornhuskers’ comeback bid and post a 65-56 win Wednesday night.

The Huskers cut the Boilers’ 20-point lead to five over a 10-minute stretch. But each time Nebraska looked ready to break through for its first Big Ten Conference win, Byrd or Johnson made big shots to stem the momentum.

“I feel we stepped up at the right time,” Johnson said. “If they left us open, we made veteran plays.”

Johnson finished with 18 points to lead four Purdue players in double figures. A.J. Hammons added 14 points and eight rebounds, Byrd scored all 12 of his points in the second half on four 3-pointers and Ronnie Johnson had 10 points and six assists as the Boilermakers posted their first Big Ten road win.

Purdue (9-8, 3-2) has won two straight games and five of seven with a lineup that starts three freshmen in 7-footer Hammons, point guard Ronnie Johnson and guard Rapheal Davis.

“We just throw them in the fire and let them play through their mistakes, learn from their mistakes and get better,” Boilers coach Matt Painter said.

Hammons and Ronnie Johnson looked good in the first half, combining to make 7 of 10 shots as the Boilers broke out to a 28-19 halftime lead.

The Boilermakers came out on a 15-4 run after the break to stretch it to 43-23, but they couldn’t put away the Huskers.

“When they come back and it’s a close game, you just can’t panic,” Ronnie Johnson said. “You have to stick with what you were doing the first half to get the lead. You have to get the ball to your scorers. I thought I did a good job of finding them. We got Byrd some big shots and he knocked them down.