Jones leads West Virginia past No. 8 Purdue, 68-64

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Kevin Jones scored 17 points and West Virginia used a late 18-6 run to hold off No. 8 Purdue 68-64 on Sunday.

John Flowers added 15 points, Truck Bryant scored 12 and Joe Mazzulla had 10 for West Virginia (12-4), which lost in a blowout to the Boilermakers last season.

Purdue's JaJuan Johnson scored 26 points in his second-straight solid game against the Mountaineers. E'Twaun Moore added 14 points and Lewis Jackson scored 10.

The Boilermakers (15-3) now have their first losing streak of the season after also falling 70-67 at Minnesota on Thursday night.

West Virginia has won a season-high four straight, following its most prolific offensive showing of the season in a 93-63 win over Providence on Thursday night with scrappy defensive effort against the Boilermakers. The Mountaineers outrebounded Purdue 37-29 and won despite committing 17 turnovers.

Neither team led by more than five points until E'Twaun Moore hit 3-pointers 29 seconds apart to put Purdue ahead 44-38 with 14:16 remaining.

Frustrated by clogged scoring lanes that shut down chances for close baskets, West Virginia then went to its outside game.

Jones scored nine points over a four-minute span, Casey Mitchell made a three-point play and Deniz Kilicli's baby hook from the baseline gave the Mountaineers their largest lead, 60-54, with 3:39 left.

Johnson's jumper with 38 seconds left brought Purdue within 64-62, but West Virginia preserved the win by making four free throws in the final 35 seconds.

Purdue lost despite shooting 16 of 30 (53 percent) from the floor in the second half and 48 percent overall. West Virginia went 14 of 27 (52 percent) from the floor after halftime.

Johnson, who burned the Mountaineers for 25 points and 10 rebounds a year ago, looked every bit as effective this time, even though West Virginia constantly had a big body on him.

Danny Jennings started, but when West Virginia needed some offense he was quickly replaced by Deniz Kilicli, who outweighs Johnson by 50 pounds. Jones and forward Cam Thoroughman helped double team Johnson, but that only gave others open looks.

The physical game left Johnson holding the back of his head after he was hit on the offensive end of the court, while at the other end seconds later, Jackson limped off the court when he landed awkwardly after making a layup. He returned a short time later. Terone Johnson also went to the bench temporarily, holding his right arm.

West Virginia looked tentative at the start despite the support of its first sellout crowd of the season. The Mountaineers turned the ball over on their first four trips down the court. Flowers, who had a career-high 24 points in a blowout win over Providence on Thursday night, didn't have a shot attempt in the first half.

The lead changes seven times over the final eight minutes of the half, with Bryant's jumper giving West Virginia a 29-28 halftime lead.