Hunter Jr helps Purdue beat No. 18 Iowa 77-68

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Eric Hunter Jr., scored a career-high 19 points, and Evan Boudreaux had 14 points and 14 rebounds to help Purdue beat No. 18 Iowa 77-68 on Tuesday night.

The Boilermakers (16-14, 9-10 Big Ten) swept the two games against the Hawkeyes this season.

Purdue had already handed Iowa its worst loss of the season, a 104-68 defeat on Feb. 5 on a night when the Boilermakers made a season-high 19 3-pointers and shot 63.1% from the field.

This game was won on the inside, with Purdue scoring 30 points in the paint. The Boilermakers also had an 47-33 edge in rebounding, including 21 offensive rebounds.

Purdue led by as many as 21 points in the first half.

Luka Garza led Iowa (20-10, 11-8) with 26 points and 12 rebounds, his 15th double-double of the season. It was the 15th consecutive Big Ten game of 20 or more points for Garza, the longest streak by a player in the conference in 20 years.

But Garza, the Big Ten's scoring leader, had little offensive help. Joe Wieskamp had 10 points, the only other Iowa player in double figures.

Jahaad Proctor added 12 points for Purdue.

Iowa had its 13-game home winning streak snapped, becoming the last Big Ten team to lose at home this season.

SINGLE-SEASON HISTORY

Garza became Iowa's all-time single-season scoring leader. Garza, who now has 712 points, passed John Johnson, who scored 699 points in the 1969-70 season.

BIG PICTURE

Purdue, which had lost four of its previous five games, kept its postseason hopes alive.

The Hawkeyes suffered a crucial loss chasing a double-bye in next week's Big Ten tournament. Iowa is tied for fifth place, 1 1/2 games out of fourth place.

UP NEXT:

Purdue: The Boilermakers host Rutgers on Saturday.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes close the regular season at Illinois on Sunday.