Hummel scores 17 as No. 7 Purdue beats Cal State Northridge, 89-64 in season opener

Hummel leads No. 7 Purdue over Northridge 89-64

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Robbie Hummel scored 17 points to help No. 7 Purdue beat Cal State Northridge 89-64 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Hummel also had six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

JaJuan Johnson scored 15 points, freshman reserve D.J. Byrd scored 13 and Chris Kramer added 11 points and four assists for the Boilermakers, who were playing without starting point guard Lewis Jackson. He was serving a one-game suspension for playing in an unspecified NCAA-sanctioned event without approval from his coach and compliance director.

Kevin Menner led Northridge with 18 points. Willie Gallick scored 11 and Kenny Daniels added 10, but Northridge shot only 39 percent from the field, turned the ball over 25 times and made just 23 of 43 free throws.

Purdue made eight 3-pointers to lead 55-20 at halftime.

Boilermakers coach Matt Painter had said he respected Northridge, which went 17-14 last season and tested Memphis in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Matadors lost five of their top six scorers from that team, though, and it showed early. Purdue made seven of its first eight shots and led 25-3 just 5 minutes into the game. Johnson scored 10 points during that opening run.

Purdue’s shooting cooled off slightly the rest of the half, but its defense didn’t rest. The Boilermakers forced 14 turnovers and held Northridge to 22 percent shooting, surpassing the 50-point barrier on a 3-pointer by Byrd with 1:44 left.

The Matadors cut their deficit to 30 early in the second half before Hummel and Kramer each made two baskets during an 8-2 run to make it 65-29.

Purdue shot just 40 percent in the second half, and the Matadors outscored the Boilermakers 44-34 after halftime, although they were never threatened after the break.

Purdue’s freshmen, led by Byrd, combined for 27 points.