Purdue 68, Northwestern 60: A.J. Hammons finished with 16 points and nine rebounds to help the visiting Boilermakers win their third straight.

Rapheal Davis had 15 points and seven boards for Purdue (14-8, 6-3 Big Ten), which joined four other teams in a tie for second place in the conference standings. Jon Octeus chipped in 14 points and also grabbed seven rebounds as the Boilermakers had a 24-8 advantage in made free throws.

Bryant McIntosh and Tre Demps scored 18 points apiece as the Wildcats (10-11, 1-7) dropped their seventh straight. The rest of the team combined for one 3-pointer and three free throws as Northwestern was held below 70 points for the fifth straight time.

There were several lead changes in the first half, the last coming on McIntosh's layup in the closing seconds that put Northwestern on top 29-28. Vince Edwards scored on the opening possession of the second half and Purdue never trailed again, opening the half with a 19-4 run.

Demps had six points in a 9-2 burst that trimmed the Wildcats' deficit to nine approaching the midway point of the half and it was a seven-point gap after McIntosh's basket with under four minutes left. Hammons followed with two free throws and Davis found a wide-open Octeus underneath for a slam to make it 61-50 with 2:35 to go, and the hosts never got closer than six thereafter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Northwestern's last six losses have come by an average of 4.2 points. ... Purdue C Isaac Haas added 10 points with six free throws off the bench. ... The Boilermakers were 2-for-9 from beyond the arc while the Wildcats finished 6-of-15.