COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Jalen Smith scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, and No. 24 Maryland used a strong defensive performance to beat 12th-ranked Purdue 70-56 Tuesday night, ending the Boilermakers' eight-game winning streak.
Down by eight at halftime, the Terrapins (19-6, 10-4 Big Ten) took the lead for the first time with 10 minutes left before pulling away. The comeback was fueled by Smith, Eric Alaya and fellow freshman Aaron Wiggins.
Maryland outscored Purdue 40-18 in the second half, limiting the Boilermakers to 1-for-16 shooting from beyond the arc.
Ayala scored 15, Anthony Cowan Jr. added 12 and Fernando Bruno had 12 points and 12 rebounds, his seventh straight double-double and 16th of the season. Wiggins scored 11 on 4-of-6 shooting.
Carsen Edwards scored 24 for Purdue (17-7, 10-3), but was limited to seven points after halftime on 2-for-13 shooting. The Boilermakers went 6 for 36 from the floor in the second half.
Purdue had won five straight over Maryland, including a 62-60 decision on Dec. 5.
Maryland made its first three shots of the second half and held the Boilermakers to 1-for-11 shooting during a 10-2 run that tied it at 40.
Edwards responded with a layup and 7-foot-3 Matt Haarms added three free throws for a 45-42 lead, and Edwards buried a 3-pointer for a six-point cushion.
Successive 3s by Ayala again knotted the score, and Maryland took its first lead when Smith slammed home an alley-oop pass from Cowan.
It was 50-all before Wiggins drilled a 3 to put the Terrapins ahead for good.
Edwards scored 17 points, and the Boilermakers committed only two turnovers in taking a 38-30 halftime lead.
Maryland missed its first seven field-goal tries, five by Smith, to fall into a quick hole. Purdue led 26-17 before Fernando took his first shot, an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Darryl Morsell.
After the Terrapins cut an 11-point deficit to 33-30, Edwards made two foul shots and Ryan Cline nailed a buzzer-beating shot from well beyond the arc.
BIG PICTURE
Purdue: The Boilermakers appeared well on their way to their fourth straight road win before coming up cold in the second half. Their poor shooting can be attributed in part to Maryland's defense, but there's really no explaining that horrid performance from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes.
Maryland: The Terrapins improved to 6-0 at home in the Big Ten, despite allowing Purdue to snag 17 offensive rebounds. Still, there's no complaining about a 10-4 start in the conference for a team with only two seniors, neither of whom played in this game.
UP NEXT
Purdue: Hosts Penn State on Saturday, a rematch of a Jan. 31 game won by the Boilermakers in OT.
Maryland: At No. 6 Michigan on Saturday.
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