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Purdue vs. Michigan
Boilermakers -2 vs. Wolverines
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Despite defeating Michigan State early last week, Purdue is still fighting for their life in the Big Ten Conference. They will seek a fifth straight victory and a fourth straight win against Michigan when the teams meet up Thursday in Ann Arbor.
Tempers flared in the teams first matchup January 31st at Mackey Arena. Michigans Manny Harris was ejected when he elbowed Chris Kramer, temporarily knocking him out. Harris was promptly ejected and the Wolverines missed his 16.9 points per game as the Boilermakers outscored Michigan 40-20 following the foul, which occurred early in the second half, and turned a close game into a blow out victory, 67-49.
Following that game, Purdue lost two straight on the road before embarking on their current four-game winning streak. The 16th-ranked Boilermakers (21-6, 10-4) are trying to keep pace with the Spartans and are a game and a half behind the Big Ten leaders. They have not fared that well on the road (4-3) and will be attempting to win their second straight. After leaving Ann Arbor, Purdue will host Ohio State and Northwestern before embarking on a hopefully meaningful season finale at Michigan State on March 8th.
Purdue routed in-state rival Indiana on Saturday with a 81-67 win led by ETwaun Moores 26 points, a season high. Moore his averaging 14 points per contest for the team high and he scored 17 in last month’s victory over the Wolverines.
Barring a home NIT appearance, Michigan (17-11, 7-8) will play their final home game at Crisler Arena for the season. Michigan has some strong wins on their resume at UCLA and at home versus Duke. A win against Purdue would be another notch in what they hope is a NCAA Tournament-clinching resume. The Wolverines have not been in the NCAA tournament since winning the Big Ten Tournament in 1998. That tournament win and NCAA appearance has since been wiped off the books because of self-imposed sanctions from a scandal during the mid to late 1990s, making 1994 the last legitimate tournament appearance in the Big Dance.
The loss of Harris in the prior Purdue game hampered Michigan, but largely without him in the teams most recent loss, 70-60 at Iowa, it did not matter much. Harris was benched after an ineffective performance of nine points against the Hawkeyes.
Michigan is 13-3 at home this season, but is 1-3 there against Top 25 teams.
Purdue has won three straight and five of the last six in the series.
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