BIG TEN Purdue uses intensity to top Evansville

The Boilermakers are 9-2 for the first time since 1997-98.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Purdue is starting to make a habit of taking frustrations out on its next opponent.
After losing to Southern Methodist by a point in their own tournament six days earlier, the 22nd-ranked Boilermakers responded with an 82-62 drubbing of Evansville on Saturday -- their fourth straight win over the Purple Aces at Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers, who improved to 9-2 for the first time since 1997-98, showed similar intensity against Central Michigan, beating the Chippewas 80-39 four days after a 3-point loss to then-No. 11 Oklahoma.
"This was a much better game," Purdue coach Gene Keady said. "We out-rebounded them 41-23, but we should have. It was good to get back on the winning track after getting pushed around by SMU."
Leaders
Kenneth Lowe scored 17 points to lead five Purdue players in double figures. Reserve Brett Buscher scored a season-high 12 and Evansville native Matt Kiefer added 14 in game he characterized as emotional.
"I grew up watching Purdue, but I also grew up watching Evansville basketball," said Kiefer, who was 5-of-6 from the field. "I've been getting some open looks, and it feels like it's coming easier now. It's a credit to the team, too, for getting me the ball when I'm open."
Evansville coach Steve Merfeld found himself watching Kiefer from the sideline on more than one occasion.
"He is good," Merfeld said. "He really fits Purdue. He is the kind of man who will just beat you up, and that's what he did tonight."
Evansville didn't back down. Kyle Anslinger led Evansville (1-7) with 16 points, including going 4-of-5 from 3-point range. The Purple Aces shot 41.7 percent on 3s in the first half and got within 39-35 on Lucious Wagner's running 3 at the halftime buzzer.
But Purdue went on a 19-3 run over a 3:30 span in the second half to defeat Evansville, losers in six of their past eight games after leading at halftime.
Michigan 70, UCLA 66
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Just two days after his father died, Bernard Robinson Jr. used the court as an escape.
Robinson had 17 points and four assists in Michigan's victory over UCLA while putting his non-basketball thoughts on hold.
"I prayed before the game, but I just wanted to focus on this game and UCLA," he said. "I didn't want to try to do too much."
Carolyn Robinson called her son on Christmas to let him know the one-year battle his 52-year-old father, Bernard Robinson Sr., had with lung cancer was over. She encouraged him to stay with the team, and to fly home to Washington D.C. on Sunday.
He said it was the right decision.
"You couldn't ask for anything better," he said. "The coaches and my teammates did a great job of showing me love. It felt good to be here."
Robinson did not know whether he would play Tuesday at home against Boston University because he did not know when his father's funeral would be.
"I had a lot of respect for him before this, but now I have even more," said teammate Daniel Horton, who scored a season-high 19 points to lead four Wolverines in double figures. "If my dad passed, I would've probably had to go home. It says a lot about Bernard that he stayed."
Holding on
The Wolverines (8-1) made just enough free throws and stops in the final minutes to hold on against the Bruins after leading by 11 with 4:38 left.
Michigan's Courtney Sims tied a season-high with 12 points and blocked Cedric Bozeman's shot in the final minute when the Bruins trailed by just four. Graham Brown scored a season-high 10 points and made consecutive baskets that gave Michigan a 67-60 lead with 1:47 left.
Following Brown's field goals, Thompson's 3-pointer made it 67-63 with 1:30 left. His fifth 3-pointer pulled UCLA within three with 7.6 seconds left.
"They are a lot tougher than they were last year," said Horton, who helped Michigan beat UCLA 81-76 last season.
Dijon Thompson led the Bruins (4-3) with 21 points.