Texas/Purdue Battle it Out to the End

Longhorns Hook Purdue Down the Stretch

by: Steven Stremming

Photos by: Brett Crabtree/Excel Sports Publications

A early season battle between a Big 12 opponent and a Big Ten opponent, turned into a almost a NCAA tourney game feeling as the visiting Texas Longhorns, coached by Shaka Smart and Matt Painter’s Boilermakers played a intense back and forth game.

The Longhorns and Boilers played in each others grills all night as the fast paced first half flew by (in under a hour) with back and forth runs featuring Texas Junior guard and Norfolk, Virginia raised Matt Coleman III, who  cashed in behind the three point arc and Purdue Sophomore and Crown Point guard Sasha Stefanovic stroking four consecutive long range arrows himself.

    

Photo by: Brett Crabtree/Excel Sports Publications

The Boilers led at the half 34 to 31.

The start of the second half was no different in front of a very electric Mackey Arena crowd, as Texas scored the first three points of the second half behind the long range shooting of Houston, Texas Junior Jace Febres.

Purdue threw everything, and I believe a kitchen sink, would be appropriate here, at the Longhorns just to see them repeatedly battle back.

The Boilers were led by 7’3 Amerstdam, Netherland Junior Matt Haarms, Chicago, Illinois Sophomore Trevion Williams, Indianapolis, Indiana Sophomore Eric Hunter, Jr., Evanston, Illinois Junior Nojel Eastern and the newest Boiler, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s, 6’3 Senior Jahhad Proctor, in other words a total team effort.

Photo by: Brett Crabtree/Excel Sports Publications

Texas would come back from a five point deficit with two minutes to go in the game and iced it when, one of the truly great story lines of the year, Irving, Texas, 6’4 Red Shirt Sophomore Andrew Jones sank four consecutive free throws to cement the win.

Side note: Jones is overcoming leukemia.

Purdue goes back into action Wednesday night at Marquette while Texas returns home Tuesday night to face California Baptist.

From this writers point of view, Purdue/Texas should be on each school’s schedule for years to come.

Texas was led by Coleman’s 22, Gerald Liddell’s 14, Jase Febres 11 and Jericho Sims 10 while the Boilers were led by Stefanovic’s 14, Hunter and Proctor’s 12 apiece.

Photo by: Brett Crabtree/Excel Sports Publications

Liddell led the Longhorns with eight boards while Purdue was led by Williams eight and Eastern and Aaron Wheeler’s seven.

 

 

Photo by: Brett Crabtree/Excel Sports Publications