NCAA College Basketball Box Scores

National Basketball Association

BOXSCORE | RECAP

Purdue 91, Norfolk State 45

When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana
Officials: # Larry Scirotto, # Robert Riley, # Edwin Young
Attendance: 11376

By The Sports Xchange

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- For Purdue coach Matt Painter, being around 6-foot-8 sophomore power forward Caleb Swanigan is exciting.

Coaching him, according to Painter, is a breath of fresh air.

Swanigan had a career-best 32 points to go with 20 rebounds -- one shy of his career high -- and the No. 15 Boilermakers crushed Norfolk State 91-45 on Wednesday night in Mackey Arena.

"Obviously, he was pretty impressive in back-to-back games," Painter said. "I was impressed with his effort. He's getting it in a variety of ways and also being unselfish about it.

"It's a nice thing to have, him on the high post and Isaac Haas in the low post and guys shooting the ball around them."

It was Swanigan's fourth consecutive double-double, a four-game span in which he is averaging 23 points and 15.3 rebounds. He is the first Boilermaker since Bob Ford in 1971 to amass at last 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game.

"I feel like I played by playing hard," Swanigan said. "That's what I do -- play hard and give my best effort. That's what I try to do every game."

Purdue point guard P.J. Thompson, who had seven assists, no turnovers and three steals, said Swanigan's impressive numbers are no accident.

"He has played at a high level," Thompson said. "He always has had the ability to do that. He got 32 and 20 tonight, and he's not even doing it in a selfish way. He's leading. He's doing all the things he needs to help Purdue."

Center Isaac Haas added 14 points and seven rebounds for Purdue.

"it's cool to be in that kind of presence," Haas said of being Swanigan's teammate. "It's nice to get that kind of help on the block."

Swanigan's layup with 8:44 remaining gave the Boilermakers a 75-35 lead and surpassed his former career high of 27 points against Wisconsin in March 2016.

Norfolk State coach Robert Jones is impressed by Purdue.

"Purdue is unique in that they have two pros that play down low," Jones said. "We almost never encounter that. Swanigan and Haas are big and physical, and they really put us at a disadvantage down low.

"We had to concentrate so much on them that it left their guards open for 3s and drives. That really put the pressure on our interior defense."

Purdue improves to 11-2, the fifth time the Boilermakers have been 11-2 or better through 13 games during Painter's 12 seasons at his alma mater. His 2009-2010 team started 13-0, and his 2010-2011 and 2015-2016 teams were 12-1 through 13 games. The 2008-2009 team also was 11-2.

Jonathan Wade, who entered averaging 20 points, led the Spartans (3-10) with 13 points.

Purdue consistently pounded the ball into the low post in the opening half, when Swanigan compiled 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Haas added 12 points and four rebounds.

Through 20 minutes, Swanigan and Haas were a combined 12 of 14 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line, helping the Boilermakers take a 53-25 lead into the locker room.

Leading only 8-7 with 15:26 remaining in the first half, Purdue used a 12-0 run during the next 2:58 to grab a 20-7 advantage.

The Boilermakers shot 55.9 percent in the first half and outrebounded Norfolk State 26-9. Carrington Ward and Kerwin Okoro each scored six first-half points for Norfolk State.

NOTES: Purdue has 11 victories before Christmas for only the fourth time in school history (2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2015-2016) ... The Boilermakers have been ranked in the Top 25 for 26 consecutive polls ... Purdue outrebounded its last five opponents by 16 per game after winning the battle on the boards against the Spartans 45-23. ... Norfolk State G Jonathan Wade is the only Spartan averaging in double figures ... Of the 13 Norfolk State players, only starting C Dan Robinson is from the state of Virginia, a hometown product of Norfolk. ... Purdue was Norfolk State's third game this season against an Indiana school, also losing to Butler and Evansville.

Top Game Performances

Norfolk State		Purdue
Jonathan Wade 13	Scoring	Caleb Swanigan 32
Kyle Williams 2	Assists	P.J. Thompson 7
Jonathan Wade 5	Rebounds	Caleb Swanigan 20
Stavian Allen 2	Free Throws Made	Caleb Swanigan 9
Kerwin Okoro 3	Steals	P.J. Thompson 3
N/A	Blocks	Isaac Haas 3

Team Stats Summary

Team	Points	FG%	3PM-3PA	FTM-FTA	Assists	Rebounds	Blocks	Steals	Turnovers
Norfolk State	45	31.7	4-17	3-5	5	17	0	5	18
Purdue	91	55.6	4-19	17-23	21	43	4	6	12