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Swanigan’s 32 points, 20 rebounds lead No. 15. Purdue

Crossroads Classic

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 17: Caleb Swanigan #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers dunks the ball during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 17, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) Caleb Swanigan had a career-best 32 points and 20 rebounds - his fourth consecutive double-double - and No. 15 Purdue defeated Norfolk State 91-45 on Wednesday night, the Boilermakers’ sixth straight victory.

Swanigan, who is averaging 23 points and 15.3 rebounds during the past four games, had 20 points and 14 rebounds in 17 first-half minutes, when the Boilermakers (11-2) built a commanding 53-25 lead over the Spartans (3-10).

A layup by Swanigan with 8:44 remaining gave the Boilermakers a 75-35 lead and established his career high, replacing the 27 points he scored in a March 2016 victory over Wisconsin in Mackey Arena.

Purdue, which also got 14 points and seven rebounds from center Isaac Haas, made 19 of 34 first-half shots (55.9 percent) and outrebounded Norfolk State 26-9 before halftime. Swanigan and Haas were a combined 12 of 14 from the field before intermission and 7 of 9 from the free throw line.

The Boilermakers led 8-7 with 15:26 left in the first half but countered with a 12-0 run over the next 2:58 to lead 20-7 and continued to pull away.

Purdue is 11-2 or better through 13 games for the fifth time in coach Matt Painter’s 12 seasons at his alma mater, led by a 13-0 start by the 2009-10 team.

Jonathan Wade had 13 points to lead the Spartans. He came in averaging 20. The Spartans are 0-10 against current members of the Big Ten.

BIG PICTURE

Norfolk State: The Spartans have beaten only Division I opponent - Eastern Kentucky - and are woefully undersized when playing a Power 5 conference opponent with the size and strength Purdue features.

Purdue: As it has done throughout its six-game December winning streak, the Boilermakers continue to pound the ball inside to the 6-foot-8 Swanigan and the 7-2 Haas, whose size is too much for almost all mid-majors.

UP NEXT

Norfolk State: The Spartans do not play again until a Dec. 30 trip to Bowling Green.

Purdue: The Boilermakers are off until Dec. 28 when they begin Big Ten play against Iowa in Mackey Arena.

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More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25.