Purdue puts up 102 points; Southeast drops 6th straight

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue sophomores Gordon Watt and Chris Lutz answered their coach's challenge with emphatic actions Saturday night in Mackey Arena.

Dropped from the starting lineup after Thursday night's 19-point loss at Indiana State, forward Watt and guard Lutz came off the bench for 25 points and 12 rebounds in a 102-65 drubbing of Southeast Missouri State.

It's the first time the Boilermakers have surpassed the century mark since a 101-64 season-opening victory against North Carolina-Asheville on Nov. 13, 1998.

The 102 points are Purdue's most since a 107-75 victory at Ohio State on Feb. 7, 1998.

While senior guard David Teague led the Boilermakers (11-3) with a game-high 21 points, Watt had 10 points and 11 rebounds in only 15 minutes, and Lutz added 15 points, including 5-for-6 shooting from 3-point range. The Boilermakers pulled away with a 21-3 run during the first half's final 5:31, building a 57-29 cushion through 20 minutes.

Southeast Missouri State's Brandon Foust, front, boxed out Purdue's Gordon Watt, while Southeast's Marcus Rhodes, left, also battled for position in Saturday's game at West Lafayette, Ind. (John Terhune ~ Lafayette (Ind.) Journal and Courier)

Six Boilermakers reached double figures, and former walk-on Bobby Riddell added eight points.

The 6-foot-6 Watt obviously did not like being benched.

"I can't control that," Watt said. "I've just got to get out there and play the way I know how to play ... the way I'm capable of playing. The Indiana State game got under my skin.

"I looked at the stat sheet and saw two rebounds. That also got under my skin. I struggle with consistency. That's what I'm trying to get back in rhythm with. I'm going to get back in rhythm. This was just one game. Now, I'm looking forward to the next game."

Watt and Lutz were a combined 9-for-13 from the field, helping Purdue shoot 56.5 percent (35 of 62). Teague was 8-for-15 from the field, including 5-for-9 from beyond the arc.

After the loss to Indiana State, Purdue coach Matt Painter had a clear message for his team.

"It was just to play harder and try to get back to our identity, which is hard-nosed defense, no matter how the game is being called," Teague said. "We have to stick to our principles defensively. Tonight, we tried to get back to that."

Especially during the 21-3, first-half-closing burst.

For Southeast coach Scott Edgar, whose squad dropped its sixth straight and fell to 3-11, his worst fear was realized.

"I guess the lesson is, 'Don't play Purdue after they've been beaten by an in-state team,'" Edgar said. "I was kind of worried after I saw that score Thursday night. We're brand new, and we're rebuilding, obviously. We don't have the depth that we need.

"I give Purdue all the credit. We would have had to play the perfect game to come in here and win. It's almost impossible to play perfect. Our only true big guy [Mike Rembert] gets three quick fouls. That was the challenging part ... to try and hang on."

Freshman forward Jajuan Maxwell led Southeast with a career-high 15 points, surpassing his previous high of 14 last weekend at Iowa State.

David Johnson and Brandon Foust each added 11 points for the Redhawks.

Southeast made just 12 of 28 free throws, but Maxwell was 7-for-7 from the line.