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Vince Edwards’ 20 leads No. 15 Boilers over Nebraska 81-62

A.J. Hammons, Benny Parker, Tai Webster, Ed Morrow

Purdue’s A.J. Hammons (20) dunks the ball as Nebraska’s Benny Parker (32), Tai Webster (0) and Ed Morrow (30) watch, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Purdue won 81-62. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

AP

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Vince Edwards scored 20 points and A.J. Hammons had 12 of his 16 points in the second half, leading No. 15 Purdue to an 81-62 victory over Nebraska on Tuesday night.

The Boilermakers (23-7, 11-6) ended a three-game road losing streak and moved into a tie with Ohio State for sixth in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers (14-16, 6-11) lost their fourth straight.

Shavon Shields scored a season-high 32 points on his senior night for Nebraska.

Purdue used its superior height to dunk eight times and outscored the Huskers 40-28 in the paint. The Boilermakers shot 65 percent in the second half and pulled away after Nebraska pulled within eight points.

Nebraska was within 52-44 with 12 minutes left before the third of Hammons’ five dunks started a 10-2 run that put Purdue up 60-46.

The Boilermakers opened an early 21-point lead and looked as if it would make this one a runaway. Edwards drilled consecutive 3-pointers and scored 10 of his 12 first-half points during a 23-4 run that made it 30-9.

But Shields, who scored 25 points in a loss at Penn State last Thursday in his first game back from a concussion, scored the first seven points and 15 in all during a 24-11 spurt that cut it to 41-33 at halftime.

Nebraska started 3 for 16 from the field but hit 10 of its next 15 shots to make it a game entering the second half.

Purdue won the teams’ first meeting 89-74 on Jan. 30, with its centers combining for 45 points. The 7-foot Hammons had a season-high 32 in that game, 7-2 reserve Isaac Haas had 13 and the Boilermakers dunked seven times.

On Tuesday, Hammons picked up a couple of quick fouls and was limited to 6 minutes in the first half. Haas had all eight of his points in the first half and played only 2 minutes in the second.

The Boilermakers, shooting 36 percent for the season from 3-point range, got two 3s apiece from Edwards, Mathias and Ryan Cline and finished 7 of 15 from beyond the arc.

Tai Webster had nine points and eight rebounds for Nebraska. Andrew White III scored four points and was held out of double figures in consecutive games for the first time this season.

TIP-INS

Purdue: The Boilermakers won in Lincoln for first time since 2012-13. ... Purdue has won 37 of last 38 games when attempting more free throws than the opponent. ... Hammons has scored 10 or more points in 11 straight games.

Nebraska: Shields and Benny Parker, who has played in all 126 games in his career, were honored during a Senior Night ceremony before the game. ... White needs one point to become the 14th Nebraska player to score 500 in a season. ... Shields has scored in double figures in 12 straight games, the longest stretch of his career. ... The Huskers have played nine ranked opponents, fourth-most in program history.

UP NEXT

Purdue hosts Wisconsin on Sunday.

Nebraska visits Northwestern on Sunday.