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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois didn't offer Brian Cardinal a
scholarship, so he took off for Purdue. Now every time the rugged
forward, known as "Citizen Pain," comes home, he makes the Illini
hurt.
Cardinal did it again Wednesday night, teaming with Mike
Robinson, another Illinois native, to lead the Boilermakers to a
69-66 victory over the Illini (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP).
Purdue has beaten Illinois nine straight times and Cardinal and
Robinson are now 8-0 against their home state university.
"It's a powerhouse school and to play well against them my
whole career and be 8-0 against them is amazing," Cardinal said
after scoring 21 points amidst a chorus of boos every time he
touched the ball as the fans reacted to his nonstop physical,
floor-burn style of play.
"They're always on me. I just go out and play as hard as I can
and if they want to boo me, it's up to them. I'd rather have them
boo me than one of my teammates," Cardinal added.
Cardinal, whose father Rod is the Illinois team trainer, is from
nearby Tolon, Ill. They hugged after the game, after the son had
beaten his father's team once again.
"I've matured a lot and I've been able to go through it with my
father. And it's not that big of a deal," Cardinal said. "It used
to be a lot more nerve-wracking. I'd come down through the tunnel
and know all the security guards."
Purdue, coming off a tough double-overtime loss to Michigan,
improved to 10-5 and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Illinois suffered its
second straight loss to an unranked team and slipped to 9-5 and 1-2
in league play.
Robinson had 11 of his 12 points in the second half and had nine offensive rebounds as the Boilermakers had a whopping 19-6 edge on the offensive boards.
"They were quick to the ball and more aggressive," said
Illinois coach Lon Kruger, who was not in Champaign when Cardinal
came out of high school. Still Kruger, now 0-8 against Purdue at
Illinois, knows more than anyone how Cardinals' play sparks the
Boilermakers.
"Brian is the heart and soul and every team in the Big Ten
would like to have that," Kruger said. "He has as much impact on
his club as any player."
Robinson had a major role, too. He scored eight straight
Boilermakers points as Purdue took a 67-62 lead before Cory
Bradford and Frank Williams hit shots in the lane to bring Illinois
within one with 1:24 left.
When Cardinal missed a shot, Robinson got the offensive rebound but was called for traveling with 52 seconds left. After a timeout, Bradford missed a jumper, Greg McQuay rebounded for Purdue and the Illini fouled Carson Cunningham with 26 seconds to go. He hit both to make it 69-66.
Illinois took a timeout with 12 seconds remaining, but Williams' 3-pointer went off the rim with three seconds left and Purdue
players raced to the floor to celebrate.
Bradford scored 13 points and Williams and Marcus Griffin 10 each for Illinois, which suffered its first home loss after six
straight wins at Assembly Hall.
Jaraan Cornell and Cunningham had 13 points each for Purdue.
Illinois took a seven-point lead with nine minutes to go when
Sergio McClain hit two free throws, drove for a basket and Sean
Harrington sank a 3-pointer.
But then the Boilermakers, behind the frenetic and rough play of Cardinal and the offensive rebounding of Robinson, caught up and
then went ahead with a 13-4 run. McQuay's dunk and Robinson's
bucket after a feed from the relentless Cardinal, who grabbed an
offensive rebound, put Purdue up 61-59 with 5:12 to go.
Williams' jumper tied the game for the last time at 61 and then
Robinson had a tip-in, two free throws and a follow-up basket to
put Purdue up.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Purdue Clubhouse
Illinois Clubhouse
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