WEST LAFAYETTE – The Purdue men’s basketball team made quick work of a Knight-coached team Tuesday at Mackey Arena.
Junior guard Terone Johnson had 16 points and seven rebounds as the Boilermakers defeated Pat Knight’s Lamar Cardinals 72-39 in front of 12,721 fans.
“For us, we just try to prepare for the other team. From a personal standpoint, he’s a friend of mine and has been for a long time. I’d prefer not to play friends,” said Purdue coach Matt Painter, who was an AAU teammate of Knight.
“It was not fun to play against Bruce Weber and Illinois. It was not fun at all. A lot of people don’t realize that unless you go through it. But (Knight) wanted to do. He wanted to get back here for recruiting purposes and play against a Big Ten team. He’s a good friend. I don’t enjoy that. Sure, you’d rather win than lose.”
Purdue (4-4) won by dominating points in the paint (38 to Lamar’s 14) and second-chance opportunities (18 points to Lamar’s 4).
The Boilermakers showed balance with an inside-outside attack.
Freshman center A.J. Hammons had 13 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Anthony Johnson had 11 points.
Freshman guard Rapheal Davis, a Fort Wayne native, and junior forward Sandi Marcius each had seven points. Freshman forward Jay Simpson had six points and five rebounds.
“I thought our patience was better,” Painter said. “I thought we were more selective. That’s hard for guys, that’s hard for them to pass up shots they feel they can make but the percentages say they are not making them and you have to do what’s best for Purdue.
“I thought we did a better job of getting the ball inside, driving it in and getting a better shot.”
Senior guard Dru Anthrop did a little bit of everything. He had four steals, three points and three assists in 23 minutes.
“It just comes with the preparation each game, know the scouting reports, know who we are playing and try to know the tendencies the best you can,” Anthrop said. “And just be ready when your number is called.
“That’s how it’s been throughout my career.”
Said Painter: “He plays harder than other guys. He carries out his assignments. He’s just solid. You need that in a team sport. … When his number is called, he’s ready to go. It’s fun watching and fun coaching guys that play hard. We haven’t had enough of that.
The Boilermakers limited Lamar (1-7) to 30.4 percent shooting from the floor (17 of 56) to spoil Knight’s return to the state.
“We’re in a football state (Texas), and it’s good from a basketball standpoint, you’ve got to come back to the Midwest to show kids what it’s like to be in a basketball state,” said Knight, the son of former Indiana coach Bob Knight.
Pat Knight also played for the Hoosiers.
“Plus, I like the physical play. Any time I get a free trip that Lamar pays for to come back, I can’t pass that up.”