Moore, Purdue batter Buckeyes

Times wires
Sunday, February 20, 2011

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — E'Twaun Moore seemingly toyed with Ohio State.

Whether he was sinking one of his seven 3-pointers, making an acrobatic layup or hitting a jumper in the closing seconds of the first half, the senior guard seemed at ease. He had a career-high 38 points to help No. 11 Purdue beat No. 2 Ohio State 76-63 on Sunday.

His teammates saw it coming.

"I know once he gets that rhythm going and steps back and hits a 3 and once he smiles, you know he has it going," guard Lewis Jackson said. "E'Twaun, he may put his fingers up and tell you he hit a 3-pointer, but he rarely smiles. Once he smiles, he's in a zone, and you probably won't stop him that night."

Purdue (22-5, 11-3 Big Ten) has had much to smile about in the past week. The Boilermakers defeated No. 10 Wisconsin on Wednesday, and their two wins over Top 10 teams brought them within a game of the Buckeyes (25-2, 12-2) for the conference lead with four games to play.

Purdue's win capped a week that saw the top four teams in the AP poll fall. The Buckeyes likely blew a chance to return to the top after losses by No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Pitt.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta knew his team was playing in a rough stretch.

"We've got to continue to keep our focus," he said. "Our guys know we have to play better basketball and we have to get them ready to do that."

NO. 5 DUKE 79, GA. TECH 57: Nolan Smith had 28 points, and the host Blue Devils (25-2, 12-1 ACC) made their case to return to the top of the AP poll.

NO. 10 WIS. 76, PENN ST. 66: Keaton Nankivil had 22 points as the host Badgers (20-6, 10-4 Big Ten) reached 20 wins for the eighth time in nine seasons.

NO. 23 TEMPLE 66, ST. JOE'S 52: Lavoy Allen had 12 rebounds to give him a school-record 1,045 for his career, leading the host Owls (21-5, 11-2 Atlantic 10).

State

CLEMSON 63, MIAMI 59: The visiting Tigers beat the Hurricanes (16-11, 4-8 ACC) for the fifth straight time.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/moore-purdue-batter-buckeyes/1152887

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