Although it was only a six-point win, Purdue stayed on track, never giving up the lead when MSU pressured late in the second half.

“You’ve got to go through a million emotions in a game like that,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “We didn’t play well enough to win. We competed when we could have quit — so that’s what I’ll take away from the loss.”

Trailing 16 points at halftime thanks to 14 first-half turnovers, No. 10 MSU (20-4 overall, 8-3 Big Ten) shot out of the locker room with a 21-6 run, cutting the No. 19 Purdue (20-5, 11-1) lead to just one — 40-39 with 8:52 to play.

The squads would then exchange baskets and free throws in bunches for the remainder of the game with the Spartans never being able to regain an advantage after their 10-9 lead in the first half.

It was over when junior center Goran Suton attempted a potential game-tying 3-pointer from the top of the key that clanked off the iron to Purdue.

The Boilermakers took it down the floor and whipped it over to freshman Robbie Hummel, who hammered the last nail in the Spartans’ coffin with a triple from the left wing to put his team up six.

Freshman guard Kalin Lucas quieted the rowdy Mackey Arena crowd with a layup, but Hummel cued them up again after knocking down a leaning jump shot late in the shot clock.

MSU could not derail the Boilermakers’ Hummel — who racked up a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

“I do enjoy having the ball at the end of the game — it’s a fun feeling, when your teammates trust you,” Hummel said. “I’m getting more comfortable in the offense, getting the ball in position to score.”

Lucas paced the Spartans with 20 points while sophomore forward Raymar Morgan chipped in with 12 of his own.

“(Lucas) deserved what he got tonight,” Izzo said. “He, to me, was unbelievable.”

Purdue’s Chris Kramer stuck to senior guard Drew Neitzel like glue throughout the game, only allowing the co-captain to score six points on 1-for-7 shooting.

“He’s big and physical and he just took me away as I came off screens,” Neitzel said. “They were holding and grabbing while I was coming off screens. They’re a good defensive team.”

Hustle plays late in the game gave the Spartans hope, such as senior center Drew Naymick’s loose-ball tip that he sprinted to half court for, just before saving it as the ball headed out of bounds. Lucas picked it up and kissed it off the glass for two.

In the first half, the Spartans struggled from every angle of the game — shooting 37 percent, coughing up 14 turnovers and scoring just 18 points, entering the locker room trailing 34-18.

Purdue, however, found a way to capitalize on many of MSU’s miscues, even forcing two shot clock violations in the first three possessions of the game.

The Spartans finished the game with just nine assists on 21-for-45 shooting while turning the ball over 17 times, compared to Purdue’s 11 miscues.

The Green and White play Indiana at 9 p.m. Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.