Robbie Hummel scored 19 points and three other Boilermakers scored in double figures Wednesday night, helping Purdue hold off struggling Illinois 67-62.
Lewis Jackson and D.J. Byrd added 13 points each and Terone Johnson scored 12 for Purdue (17-9, 7-6 Big Ten).
The Illini (16-10, 5-8) repeatedly closed to within two over the game's final 10 minutes. But the Boilermakers found a way to climb away every time.
The last came on Hummel's free throw with 19.5 seconds to play that put the Boilers up 65-62. With Illinois forced to foul, Hummel then sank two more.
Freshman Tracy Abrams led Illinois with a career-high 22 points. Brandon Paul added 19 points.
Illinois has lost 7 of 8 while Purdue has won two straight to stay in the top half of the Big Ten.
NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball (ESPN/"USA Today" Rankings)
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#3 Missouri Tigers 83, Oklahoma State Cowboys 65
#7 North Carolina Tar Heels 73, Miami (FL) Hurricanes 64
#14 Murray State Racers 75, Southeast Missouri State Redhawks 66
New Mexico Lobos 77, #15 San Diego State Aztecs 67
Loyola Marymount Lions 75, #16 Saint Mary's Gaels 60
#20 Indiana Hoosiers 71, Northwestern Wildcats 66
#25 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 71, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 53
