Second-half run lifts Xavier over Purdue 63-57

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Semaj Christon scored 25 points to help lead Xavier to a 63-57 win over Purdue on Saturday.

Justin Martin added 12 points and Isaiah Philmore had eight points and seven rebounds for the Musketeers (6-1), who have won three straight.

Terone Johnson had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Ronnie Johnson had 12 points for the Boilermakers (3-4), who missed all 17 of their 3-point attempts, leaving them scoreless from beyond the arc for the first time since 1992.

Terone Johnson's drive to the basket had given the Boilermakers a 46-44 lead, but Christon scored the go-ahead free throw to put Xavier ahead 47-46 lead with 8:02 to play. Brad Redford then hit a 3-pointer and Christon scored again to make it 52-46 late.

Christon's 3-pointer with 2:49 left gave the Musketeers a 55-48 lead, and Xavier never looked back.

The Musketeers trailed 29-26 at halftime and took the lead at the start of the second half, but the Boilermakers didn't go away. They went up 34-31 after Martin scored and Christon was fouled on a shot that tied the game at 31.

Martin was fouled on a shot and made a free throw to give the Musketeers a three-point lead, but Terone Johnson scored five straight points -- two baskets and a free throw -- to give the Boilermakers the lead again, 38-36, with 16:07 left.

Every time, the Musketeers had an answer. Martin tied the game on a shot, but then Carroll scored two free throws. Martin tied it again and Terone Johnson scored to make it 42-40 with 13:26 left before Xavier was finally able to break away.

The Musketeers jumped to an 11-2 lead at the start of the game. Christon, who had 10 points in the first half, made two jumpers and two free throws, Philmore hit a jumper and Dee Davis made a 3-pointer.

Terone Johnson scored right away for Purdue, but then the Boilermakers missed seven straight shots and two free throws.

Finally, Purdue's Donnie Hale scored to spark a 15-2 run that gave the Boilermakers a 17-13 lead. Freshman Ronnie Johnson, who led Purdue in scoring at halftime with eight points, scored four points in the run.

But the Musketeers still had answers. Martin hit a 3-pointer to get within 17-16. Ronnie Johnson made two more free throws and a layup before the Boilermakers ended the half on a 6-0 run.

XAVIER 63, PURDUE 57

XAVIER (6-1)

Taylor 2-11 2-2 6, Martin 5-7 1-1 12, Robinson 0-2 0-0 0, Christon 8-12 8-8 25, D. Davis 1-9 2-4 5, Redford 3-4 0-0 7, Amos 0-0 0-0 0, Philmore 4-8 0-1 8, Stenger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 13-16 63.

PURDUE (3-4)

Hammons 3-7 0-1 6, Byrd 0-9 0-1 0, Lawson 1-2 1-2 3, T. Johnson 7-15 5-6 19, A. Johnson 1-4 2-4 4, R. Johnson 4-12 4-5 12, Hale 4-9 0-0 8, Simpson 1-2 1-2 3, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Carroll 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 21-60 15-23 57.

Halftime--Purdue 29-26. 3-Point Goals--Xavier 4-13 (Christon 1-1, Redford 1-2, D. Davis 1-2, Martin 1-3, Robinson 0-2, Philmore 0-3), Purdue 0-17 (A. Johnson 0-1, R. Johnson 0-3, T. Johnson 0-4, Byrd 0-9). Fouled Out--Martin. Rebounds--Xavier 29 (Philmore, Taylor 7), Purdue 44 (T. Johnson 10). Assists--Xavier 10 (Christon 4), Purdue 7 (Byrd 3). Total Fouls--Xavier 20, Purdue 15. A--14,290.