Despite Tarise Bryson's 38 points--22 in the second half--the Purdue Boilermakers topped Illinois State 90-79 in first-round action of the National Invitation Tournament Wednesday at Mackey Arena.
Bryson, an Honorable Mention Associated Press All-American, departed the game in the final minute to a standing ovation from Boilermaker and Redbird fans alike after displaying a dazzling array of jump shots, three-pointers and driving layups.
"He fought like heck and they really couldn't guard him," said Redbird coach Tom Richardson. "He just had a heck of a game."
Purdue couldn't stop Bryson, but the Boilers' three-point shooting was just too much as Purdue turned away challenge after challenge from Bryson and ISU. The Boilers hit 12 of 18 three-pointers, including 7 of 10 in the second half.
Illinois State finished 21-9, an 11-game turnaround from last year's 10-20 mark--one of the top turnarounds in NCAA basketball this year. Shedrick Ford supported Bryson with 12 points and Cedric Knight added 10.
Boilermaker guard Maynard Lewis hit six of his seven three-pointers in the second half on the way ot a career-high 26 points. Carson Cunningham added 22 for Purdue, now 16-14, which took the lead in the first half thanks to five of eight three-pointers and 17 of 30 total field goals in the first half.
Kenneth Lowe hit the last of three straight treys with 7:45 left in the first half to open a 31-14 Boiler lead. An uncharacteristic eight turnovres and seven missed free throws hurt the Redbird cause before intermission. Bryson's three free throws with no time remaining gave him 16 of ISU's 31 first-half points, but the Boilers led 44-31 at halftime.
"They got off to a good start and got confidence and that was the difference," said Richardson. "We were always fighting double-digit deficits and whenever we got some momentum, bang! They hit a three. We just couldn't guard them and got into a shootout with them."
Purdue led 49-33 in the first two minutes of the second half when Rich Bryson started an 11-2 Redbird run to pull ISU with 51-44 with 15:33 left. But Purdue came out of a time out to hit three more treys within two minutes to raise the lead back to 64-56. The Boilermakers led by double digits until the final 90 seconds.
"It's a good lesson for our young guys; that they need to learn the intensity of playing against this level of competition and in this environment," said Richardson, who returns all of his primary players but Beyers in 2001-2002. "This was a great experience for us."
