Gillis, Jenkins Jr., Morton lift top-seeded Purdue to semifinals of Big Ten tournament

CHICAGO – From the opening tip, Rutgers made life uncomfortable for Purdue during Friday’s quarterfinal round of the Big Ten tournament.

But as the fifth-ranked Boilermakers settled down and regrouped, coach Matt Painter’s team flipped the script and made life uncomfortable for the Scarlet Knights.

Sparked by the contributions from Mason Gillis, David Jenkins Jr. and Ethan Morton, Purdue outlasted Rutgers 70-65 to advance into Saturday’s semifinals against No. 13 seed Ohio State, which upended fourth-seeded Michigan State.

“Proud of our guys for hanging in there,” Painter said. “Obviously we had some Keystone Cops moments in the last three minutes, but I thought our effort was really good. I thought we embraced the physicality.”

The Scarlet Knights (19-14) have beaten the Boilermakers twice in the last two years when they’ve been ranked No. 1, using a blend of toughness, physical play and determination to pull the upsets. Purdue fought back Friday after an early deficit and brought its own brand of toughness and physical play.

“I just went into the game knowing they have out-competed us, out-toughed us the past couple years. I knew my mentality was I had to get on the boards and set that tone,” Gillis said.

The top-seeded Boilermakers (27-5) trailed by 12 but led by one at halftime on a Gillis 3-pointer. Purdue used a 6-0 run late in the second half to grab a 56-49 lead but the ninth-seeded Scarlet Knights continued to turn up the pressure.

The Boilermakers had an eight-point advantage with 3:22 to play but Rutgers feasted on a combination of turnovers and missed free throws to make it interesting down the stretch.

Gillis, Jenkins and Morton combined for 40 points, including 24 in the second half as Purdue wrestled control away from the Scarlet Knights. Gillis had 20 points and Jenkins added a season-high 12. The trio made 7 of 10 from 3-point range.

Zach Edey finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and received a dead ball technical foul with under two minutes to play when the 7-foot-4 junior came to aid of teammate Brandon Newman, who was battling Paul Mulcahy for a jumpball. Edey placed his arm between Mulcahy and Newman but Mulcahy fell down without being pushed.

“I felt like, probably at the end of the game, they were coming at me and I wanted to protect my guy,” Edey said. “I’ve got to keep my head. Smart play by him falling.”

Mulcahy called the play “just basketball.”

“High intensity game,” he said. “I don’t know. I think it was a jump ball or something, and then people got around.”

Said Morton: “I would expect any one of our guys to step in and do the same thing. He made a play – I guess you could call it a play. No matter what transpired we have a lot of respect because they play really damn hard and they play the right way and they compete. We have a lot of respect for those players and coach (Steve) Pikell and their program because he’s done a great job.”

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GILLIS SHINES IN HEAVY WEIGHT BATTLE

The junior from New Castle walked out of the locker after halftime wearing what appeared to be a heavy-weight belt.

The black contraption around Gillis’ waist is a “heating, vibrating belt” to keep his back “loose” and he only wears it for games.

He also put it on when he came to the bench in the second half.

“It’s moreso to make sure everything doesn’t tighten up really,” Gillis said outside of Purdue’s locker room.

Gillis was plenty loose throughout Friday’s game and was prepared for a heavy weight battle.

By halftime, Gillis had 10 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Purdue its first lead. He finished with 20 points, starting the game 6-for-6, and pulled down nine rebounds in a performance that was more about hustle and heart to match Rutgers’ physical play.

His five offensive rebounds were just as big as his reverse layups after taking a pass from Edey.

“It always feels great whenever the ball goes in, but the thing with not scoring as much is that I have to be able to do other things on the court, whether that’s helping my teammates score, feeding the post to Zach, screening when I’m supposed to screen, doing what coach Paint says,” Gillis said. “It doesn’t always happen, but I try my best.”

He made his first 3-pointers since Feb. 12 at Northwestern and scored his most points since totaling 29 against Penn State. Gillis also delivered a big basket after the Scarlet Knights pulled within 64-60, beating the shot clock buzzer with a jumper with 58.4 seconds.

“Mason was unbelievable,” Morton said. “He brings that every game. Whether he scores 20 or scores zero, that effort on the glass on the defensive end and understanding what we’re doing as being a post feeder and a cutter, that’s always there. Today, he made shots and got some rebounds and cut off the ball.”

LATE SHOT CLOCK SUCCESS

The Boilermakers have leaned on the transfer’s veteran presence all season and Friday the contributions followed.

As the offense was struggling to find a rhythm, Jenkins hit a 3-pointer to begin the process of cutting into the Scarlet Knights’ double-digit lead. It sparked Purdue as it closed out the half on a 22-11 run.

“It really is just staying ready when my number’s called,” said Jenkins, who was 4 of 4 from the field, including three 3-pointers. “I feel like that’s half the battle is to be able to stay in the game for coach Painter and to be able to play defensively and be able to get rebounds and do the little things, a lot of things that Mason does over here.

“That’s kind of the role I’ve been trying to take on, and if the shots fall, that’s good to add on.”

Throughout his career, including stops at South Dakota State, UNLV and Utah, he’s become a master of beating the shot clock with big baskets. He did it again Friday as he teamed with Morton to drain three straight 3-pointers.

“In the early shot clock, we run our offense and Paint says, when it’s seven or eight seconds below, ‘go and get it.’ I light up at that. And just go get it,” Jenkins said.

MORTON LEANS ON SIMPLE THINGS

The junior was moved out of the starting lineup prior to the Boilermakers facing Wisconsin. His production, though, is on the upswing.

Morton hit two important 3-pointers against the Scarlet Knights and brought the same level of defensive intensity. From an offensive standpoint, Morton has made 7 of his last 14 from beyond the arc after starting the season in a slump.

He was asked about why he’s in a rhythm shooting here down the stretch and said, “you might want to slow your roll.” But it’s hard for Morton to deny what he’s done recently.

“I said it at the beginning of the year when I shot the ball like crap, water will find its level and not to say I’m this unbelievable shooter but when you put the work in every day, it’s the simple things – shooting the same shots every day,” said Morton, who totaled eight points and four assists.  “Knock on wood – I can come out here (Saturday) and go 0 for 10. Whether that happens or not, I’m going to play hard and do my job and be a leader for these guys. We have enough talent to get things done.”

The trio of Gillis, Jenkins and Morton were the difference in the Boilermakers advancing in the tournament or making an early exit.

“David gave us a spark and that’s huge at the end of those shot clocks being able to make those tough 3s,” Painter said. “Ethan has been great for our program. Obviously we took him out of the starting lineup, and he’s played really well since then. He has the same attitude, the same approach defensively. He hits two big 3s at Wisconsin. He hits two big 3s today. It’s great to see him step up and knock those shots down.”