Nov. 15, 2007

Box Score

West Lafayette, Ind. - Chris Kramer scored 15 points to lead Purdue Universuty to a season-opening 66-40 win over visiting Bethune-Cookman University Thursday night inside Mackey Arena/Keaty Court in West Lafayette, Ind.

The weather was cold and so was the offensive game for the Wildcats for Bethune-Cookman on Thursday night as they committed a Clidd Reed era record 22 turnovers in the first half. All but five (5) of those turnovers, unofficially, were unforced errors charged to the 'Cats.

E'Twaun Moore had 14 points, five assists and three steals, and JaJuan Johnson added 12 points for the Boilermakers (1-0).

Jimmy Hudson led Bethune-Cookman (0-3) with 14 points.

Purdue's highly touted freshman class didn't disappoint. Moore, Johnson, Robbie Hummel and Scott Martin combined for 37 points.

Purdue forced 30 turnovers and held the Wildcats to 40 percent shooting.

Freshmen scored Purdue's first seven points to help the Boilermakers take an early 14-4 lead.

Bethune-Cookman cut the lead to 14-9 before Kramer took over. After a basket by Marcus Green, Kramer made two free throws, then a bucket to make it 20-9. He then got a steal while diving on the floor and threw a pass while sitting to a streaking Green for a dunk. Moments later, another steal by Kramer led to a 3-point play by Martin that made the score 25-9.

"I wasn't really concerned with what they [Purdue] was doing tonight, but I was extremely concerned with our defense and our offense," expressed B-CU sixth-year head coach Clifford Reed, Jr. "We have to do a better job of protecting the ball ... and that's the quote of the season, thus far."

Moore made a 3-pointer as time expired in the first half to give the Boilermakers a 36-19 lead. Kramer had 11 points, three steals and two assists before the break.

The Boilermakers forced 22 turnovers in the first half.

Bethune Cookman hung around early in the second half, and trailed 45-32 after a layup by John Anderson.

Purdue responded with a 17-0 run that made it 62-32 with 5:17 to go. The highlight was an alley-oop dunk by Johnson on an assist from Tarrance Crump.

"When you average 22 turnovers a game, or something like 25 after tonight, you need to be scoring at or near 90 points per game," stated Reed. "We are not where we need to be right now, and my staff and I will try to get that together, but at the same time we need to find a swagger within ourselves to show we belong on the court with the Purdue's of the world. And right now, we don't have that kind of walk or talk in our game."

Bethune-Cookman will now take some time off before traveling 15 minutes down US 92 to Stetson University. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. contest inside the Edmunds Center in nearby DeLand, Fla.

For ticket information, please contact the Stetson Ticket Office by logging onto their website at www.GoHatters.com. For more information on B-CU men's hoops, please call the Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.