Purdue basketball has its championship X-factor and his name is Lance Jones
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey — Lance Jones showed in the last handful of games he can be a prolific scorer.
On Sunday, Jones showed his ability to do everything else.
Jones, crowd-interacting energizer of Purdue basketball, fresh off a 24-point showing against Michigan, shot just 1 of 10 at Jersey Mike's Arena, producing one of the best worst games of his life.
To his four points, Jones had 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals in No. 2 Purdue basketball's 68-60 win over Rutgers.
"That's the sign of a really good basketball player in my opinion," Purdue center Zach Edey said. "When your shot is not falling, who are you? He's still going to play hard on defense. He's still going to try to guard their best player."
More: Zach Edey's 26 points, 12 rebounds help Purdue basketball hold off Rutgers
What was once a 13-point halftime lead got dicey as Rutgers mounted its comeback, closing to within two.
Most teams would've folded. In the past, Purdue might've, too.
The Boilermakers didn't.
When Purdue's back was against the wall, it was Jones with the heads up hustle play to sneak into a passing lane on a lazy toss following Rutgers grabbing a defensive rebound.
Jones, 0-for-8 from the field at that point, laid it off the glass for his first two points, giving Purdue a 50-43 lead with 9:25 to go.
Jones' only other two points again came by way of hustle.
A should-be turnover after the ball rolled off Braden Smith's foot became Jones picking up a loose ball and getting fouled, this time with 1:33 to go to ruin Rutgers bid for another upset at Purdue's expense.
"It's frustrating as a shooter when your shots don't fall, but I wanted to do whatever I could to help my team win," Jones said.
Jones, a fifth-year transfer from Southern Illinois, was cause for some eye rolls when Matt Painter snagged him from the portal.
Jones has started all 21 games this season, become a fan favorite and a better upgrade than anyone could've imagined, Painter included, for maybe the best team in college basketball.
"We got outrebounded and a guy that doesn't get a lot of rebounds got 10 rebounds," Painter said. "Lance has been great for us. He defends. He's a threat to shoot the ball. He can help against the press as a second ball handler. Getting those steals and those rebounds were huge in a game we didn't win the possession battle."
But this was something we hadn't seen from Jones.
He's supposed to be a lockdown defender and shot maker.
This time, Smith became the shot maker and Jones transformed into the high-rebounding guard and distributor.
"With Lance, when the ball isn't going in, it shows all the other stuff he can do," Smith said. "Normally, it's me getting the assists and rebounds. Having him come in and help rebound and obviously distribute, that's huge for us."
Teams that win championships — and we're not talking just conference championships — have players like Jones.
He was a high volume scorer at Southern Illinois.
With the Boilermakers, he's a multitude of things and his role varies based on scenario.
Purdue needed every bit of Lance Jones to win in a building the Boilermakers hadn't walked out of victorious in six years.
And maybe, just maybe, the Boilermakers need Lance Jones for the program to take that next step in March.
"When everybody is focused on the same thing, and all are bought into the one main goal, it just makes it easier to go out and fight for your brother and do whatever is necessary to pull out a hard road win," Jones said.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball's championship hopes boosted by transfer Lance Jones
