MSU defeated Purdue 24-21 in its 100th homecoming game at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. The victory makes fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook the outright winningest starting quarterback in MSU history with 28 wins.

Cook finished 13 for 19 with 139 yards and one touchdown.

The Spartans were able to capitalize off two Boilermaker turnovers in the first half, scoring 14 points, and had three takeaways total leading to a 21-0 halftime lead.

Senior defensive tackle Joel Heath and junior linebacker Riley Bullough each had a fumble recovery and junior defensive back Demetrious Cox had an interception, the first of his career.

Freshman running back LJ Scott scored his third and fourth touchdowns of his career in the first half. Scott finished the game with 146 yards on 18 carries. Junior wide receiver R.J. Shelton got his first touchdown of the season on a 23-yard pass from Cook in the first half.

The third quarter consisted of back-and-forth drives until MSU redshirt-freshman punter Jake Hartbarger juggled a snap and Purdue recovered his fumble at the MSU 21-yard line. The Boilermakers were able to put together their first scoring drive of the game as redshirt-freshman quarterback David Blough completed a two-yard passing touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Gregory Phillips, making the score 21-7 with 5:30 remaining in the third.

MSU had a chance to respond in the third with a 35-yard field goal try by junior kicker Michael Geiger, but the kick was wide left with 28 seconds remaining in the quarter. Geiger is now three for six on the season.

On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Boilermakers’ running back Markell Jones broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run, making the score 21-14 with 14:10 remaining in the game.

But this time, Geiger and the Spartans were able to respond.

With 9:54 remaining in the game, Geiger made a 30-yard field goal to bring the score to 24-14. The kick capped off an eight play, 65-yard and 4:11 drive for the Spartans.

Purdue’s offense saw continued success in the fourth quarter as they put together a seven-play, 79-yard scoring drive in just 3:05. Jones ran in his second touchdown of the game on the drive from three yards out, making the score 24-21 with 6:44 remaining.

MSU attempted to put together a time consuming drive to end the game. Cook shovel-passed to junior tight end Jamal Lyles for a key first down on third and three. Then, on third and five with 3:15 remaining, Cook passed to freshman running back Madre London, who was unable to pick up the first down. Hartbarger punted and Purdue took over with 2:58 remaining at its own 20-yard line.

Purdue strung together a drive which was extended on a 13-yard third down scramble by Blough to the Boilermakers 33-yard line. Blough then threw an incompletion on fourth and six from the team’s own 37-yard line, but a defensive holding penalty on senior defensive back Arjen Colquhoun game the Boilermakers a first down.

The Boilermakers then again faced fourth down. This time from nine yards out. And this time, Colquhoun made the legal break-up and the Boilermakers turned the ball over on downs.