Top 10 Gallery: Purdue clinches with win over Indiana
A look at Tom Campbell's images from Tuesday night, when the Boilermakers beat the Hoosiers 86-75 to earn a share of the Big Ten title.
We count down our top 10.
10.
The Paint Crew was ready to go.
Hours before the game — a full day for some — students started lining up outside Mackey Arena's southwest gate, preparing to enter to watch Purdue host Indiana for a Big Ten championships. No students ever before at Purdue had been able to say such a thing.
They came prepared, including signs that might get the Indiana faithful a bit steamed. This sign even made its way to a national television audience, although only briefly.
9.
While it was a raucous atmosphere outside Mackey before the game, it was all quiet inside, aside from the bouncing ball of Ryan Cline's pregame routine.
T-shirts were by the ready, as student wore them in celebration of Purdue's two seniors: Spike Albrecht and Jon McKeeman.
8.
Caleb Swanigan doesn't show much emotion, one way or the other, and Tuesday night was no different, even if it was the biggest game of his Purdue career. The sophomore forward wasn't distracted by IU's candy-striped pants.
It wasn't his senior night. But was it his last game in Mackey Arena? Only time will tell.
7.
Much like he did back in Assembly Hall, where Purdue won earlier this season, Vincent Edwards set the tone in the rematch, driving hard to the basket for two points.
In the first 2:14 Tuesday night, he had four points and a rebound, helping Purdue to a 6-0 lead and letting the Hoosiers know that they were in for a fight.
6.
Even Dakota Mathias can't seem to believe it.
The junior wing was on fire in the first 20 minutes, scoring 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. After one, Albrecht gives Mathias a little dab, while Grady Eifert signals the triple from the bench.
Mathias cooled in the second, finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds, but the damage was done; his first half helped Purdue build a lead as big as 15.
5.
It wasn't all smooth for Purdue, however.
Indiana's 10-0 run that spanned the first half to the second cut its deficit to only five, giving a brief glimmer of hope to the Hoosiers.
And Isaac Haas couldn't seem shake IU post players from holding on for dear life, especially once Indiana's front-line players hit foul trouble in the second half. Matt Painter tried to illustrate the point to the officials, but to no avail.
It was a tough go for Haas, who played only six minutes after getting four fouls, yet he still had six points.
4.
Swanigan was impactful as always, with 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 36 minutes. He had only two turnovers.
3.
The Boilermakers react as they receive the Big Ten regular-season trophy, their 23rd in school history, the most of any other conference school.
It's Purdue's first Big Ten Championship since 2010.
And now the Boilermakers get the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament next week in Washington D.C.
2.
Celebration time.
1.
On his Purdue senior night, Albrecht cuts down the nets.
The guard hit a big three-pointer midway through the second half, part of a 7-0 run that helped Purdue get the lead back to a comfortable margin after the Hoosiers had cut it to six.
Membership Information: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.
