Johnson went 2-of-2 from the 3-point line and 2-of-2 from the foul line. Jay Simpson added 14 points and Errick Peck had 11 points and nine rebounds for Purdue (1-0), which trailed 76-72 with 58 seconds left.
Jordan Jackson had a game-high 24 points for Northern Kentucky (0-1), which is starting its second season as a Division I program. The Norse hit 13-of-26 3-pointers, getting a 4-of-6 performance from Todd Johnson and a 4-of-4 performance from Jack Flournoy.
Todd Johnson capped a 15-2 run with three straight 3-pointers for a 22-13 Norse lead with 9:11 left in the first half. Terone Johnson and Simpson had back-to-back layups to start Purdue's rally and Ronnie Jackson hit a late 3-pointer to tie the game at 33 with 1:18 left before halftime.
Purdue's biggest lead of the second half was six points but the Norse regained the lead on a Flournoy 3-pointer with 2:17 left. Peck hit a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left and the Norse missed two free throws before Johnson's winners and had two good looks before time expired.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Purdue C A.J. Hammons did not play as he served the final game of a three-game suspension for undisclosed violations of team rules. ... The Norse, who will play at No. 1 Kentucky on Sunday, had five blocks and matched Purdue's 35 rebounds. ... Northern Kentucky's Todd Johnson had a game-high 11 rebounds.
Northern Kentucky | Purdue | |
Jordan Jackson 24 | Scoring | Ronnie Johnson 18 |
Jordan Jackson 5 | Assists | Ronnie Johnson 5 |
Todd Johnson 11 | Rebounds | Errick Peck 9 |
Jordan Jackson 8 | Free Throws Made | Rapheal Davis 4 |
Todd Johnson 3 | Steals | Jay Simpson 2 |
Jalen Billups 1 | Blocks | Errick Peck 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Northern Kentucky | 76 | 42.9 | 13-26 | 9-11 | 18 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
Purdue | 77 | 46.6 | 7-15 | 16-20 | 12 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 12 |