Led by center JaJuan Johnson’s 20 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks, Purdue used a big run in the second half to rout the Spartans in their own building. Lucas said there was no secret behind Sunday’s blowout.

“We just got out-toughed,” Lucas said.

MSU’s lack of toughness was a common theme in the Spartans’ locker room, and at the podium following the game, head coach Tom Izzo said his team was no match for the gritty Boilermakers.

“I just thought the physical nature of their team — I would have enjoyed it if I wasn’t coaching against it,” Izzo said. “They do a good job of walling you inside and bumping and banging.”

Sunday’s game started sloppy with both teams combining for three turnovers and three missed shots before Lucas opened the scoring with a jumper almost two minutes into the game.

Purdue then scored six-straight points before MSU came back and took the lead at 7-6 on an and-one by Lucas.

But with more than 15 minutes left in the first half, that would be the last lead the Spartans would hold over Purdue for the remainder of the game.

E’Twaun Moore hit a jumper the next time down the floor helping the Boilermakers build a 13-11 lead with 12 minutes until halftime. Purdue then went on a 8-0 run to go up double digits for the first time in the game.

The Boilermakers eventually increased the margin to 33-18 with less than three minutes left in the half as MSU struggled offensively, especially close to the basket.

“I thought we still had a chance to rebound,” Izzo said. “But, the assistants said we missed eight or nine layup-type situations. As good as Purdue is defensively, you can’t miss those opportunities and win.”

Johnson — a Big Ten Player of the Year candidate — was a key component to Purdue’s success on both the offensive and defensive end in the first half. The 6-foot-10 center had a double-double by halftime, and while he only had two of his eventual seven blocks in the first 20 minutes, he was a factor in changing the Spartans’ shots near the hoop.

“JaJuan was pretty special,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. “When you got a guy out there showing like that defensively, getting blocks and getting 17 rebounds is big.”

The Spartans were able to close out the half on a 6-0 run but finished the first 20 minutes shooting just 8-for-27 (29.6 percent), including 0-for-7 from the 3-point line.

In the second half, MSU had opportunities to close the gap but never was able to capitalize.
Neither team scored for nearly the first three minutes of the half, and with a little less than 15 minutes to play, the Spartans cut the Boilermaker’s lead to 38-31.

However, Purdue responded with a 21-6 run during the nine-plus minutes to put the game out of reach. Lucas, who led all scorers with 23 points, had all of MSU’s six points on the run and finished the game as the Spartans’ only double-digit scorer.

It was Lucas’ ninth 20-point game of the season, but he was quick to point out that individual statistics don’t matter if he and the Spartans don’t win.

“If I had 30 tonight and we lost, it’s not good enough,” Lucas said. “I’d rather go for 10 points and get a W than go for 20 and lose.”

MSU has two games remaining before the Big Ten Tournament as the Spartans still have some work to do if they want to make the NCAA Tournament. Izzo said Sunday’s loss hopefully will be a teaching moment, and MSU can bounce back beginning with the final home game of the season at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Iowa.

“We are taking this loss and going to find a way to move forward,” Izzo said.