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Landry, Purdue clip Arizona

Mar 17, 2007 - 8:57 AM NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Carl Landry scored 21 points as ninth-seeded Purdue captured a 72-63 victory over No. 8 Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Region.

Freshman Chris Kramer and Chris Lutz added 16 points apiece for the Boilermakers (22-11), who advanced to face top-seeded Florida in the second round on Sunday.

Appearing in the NCAAs for the first time since 2003, Purdue led nearly throughout in capturing its ninth straight win in an opening-round matchup.

"It is a huge win for us, for our entire program and our fans," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "We had some tough times going from last place last year in the Big Ten to fourth this year in a three-way tie and to get a first-round win over a national program like Arizona. It is huge."

The Boilermakers got that big win with a mixture of stellar ball control and a disruptive defensive pressure that forced the free-wheeling Wildcats team into 17 turnovers. Purdue, which had just eight giveaways of its own, converted those into 20 points.

"The key was for us today to put pressure on the basketball and try to disrupt what Arizona was trying to do," Painter said. "We knew that if we turned the ball over and took bad shots it was going to get them into transition a lot more."

Although the Boilermakers shot just 38 percent (24-of-63), they got back in transition, limiting the Wildcats to just 10 fast-break points.

Holding a 37-34 edge at the half, Purdue opened the second with an 8-0 run, pulling ahead, 45-34, on two free throws by Landry with 16:31 remaining.

The Wildcats (20-11), appearing in the tournament for a 23rd consecutive time under coach Lute Olson, managed to close within 51-49 on a jumper by Ivan Radenovic with 5:30 left.

However, Landry answered back with four straight free throws, David Teague hit a jumper and Kramer added a wide-open layup off a defensive mix-up for a 59-52 with 2:56 left.

Landry converted all eight of his free throws and grabbed 13 rebounds, including five offensive. It was the sixth double-double for the 6-7 senior forward.

Overall, Purdue finished with a 39-32 advantage on the boards, including 19-9 on the offensive end.

"I didn't know if we would be able to outrebound them like we did, but our guys really stepped up," Painter said. "Carl Landry had a great second half on the glass and he had some important rebounds."

It was that advantage on the boards that showed the perfect example of how a less talented team can best one with much more athleticism - with desire.

"I think what we take away is that we have to be more mentally tough," said Arizona forward Marcus Williams, who managed just one rebound in 36 minutes. "You have to be more mentally tough, you can have the most talent and the greatest group of individuals but if you don't have that toughness and desire, it's not going to amount to anything."

Freshman Chase Budinger finished with 15 points for Arizona, which lost an opening-round game for the first time in four years.

Ivan Radenovic and Jawann McClellan had 12 points apiece and Williams scored 11 for the Wildcats, who struggled on 3-pointers after the half, going just 1-of-6. Overall, they were 27 percent (4-of-15).