Most basketball teams carry at least 12 players on their roster. And many play at least 8-9 per game, hoping to get points from as many contributors as possible. Though Purdue played nine of its dozen players Thursday night, it didn't get a single point from its bench.
And it didn't matter.
Coach Sharon Versyp's team rebounded against Kansas to snap a three-game losing streak, winning 61-48 at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers gained 21 points on free throws alone and scored 24 points off of 23 Jayhawk turnovers.
Neither team shot well, with Kansas making 40-percent of its field goals and Purdue 39-percent.
The Jayhawks struggled through a 4:40-long scoring drought late in the first half, turning the ball over five times in that stretch and letting the Boilermakers take a 28-20 lead on a layup by Ashley Morrissette that they would not lose.
"I told Ashley she's the one - point guard always sets the tone," said Coach Sharon Versyp. "April [Wilson]'s a point guard and offense, obviously, but Ashley was guarding their point guard and that set the tone for everybody."
The Boilermakers (4-4) have more than a week off before they host UC-Irvine (1-7) Dec. 19.