Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/245260
volume 24, EX 17 • jan. 20, 2014 Inside | Men edge Penn State 7, 11-12 | Wooden book 9-10 Women bounce back 15-18 | Recruiting 25-26 Composed Crew BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com M att Painter saw the play develop before his eyes. And it wasn't what he'd called. In the final seconds against Penn State Saturday, sophomore point guard Ronnie Johnson was expecting the Nittany Lions to play a certain defense, and the play that was drawn up would attack it. But when Johnson started to run it as the seconds ticked away, Penn State changed: Switching with all five of its players on screens, something it hadn't shown all game. Instead of panicking, Johnson stayed poised and found older brother Terone in the corner. Terone Johnson was calm, too, and promptly drilled a three-pointer to tie the game and spark Purdue's rally. The end result likely wouldn't have been as favorable last season. That's when Purdue largely struggled to make key plays down the stretch, finishing the season 1-6 in games decided by six points or fewer. This season, though, the Boilermakers, somehow, keep responding. With only one upperclassmen starter and only three upperclassmen contributing significant minutes, Purdue keeps summoning up composure to pull out close games. In games decided by six points or fewer this season, the Boilermakers are 7-2. THE Numbers 1-2 37 3 56 Purdue's record in its past three trips to Northwestern under Coach Matt Painter, including last year's 75-60 loss, the worst in 31 years. The combined shooting percentage from the field for the Boilermaker men in their three victories over Nebraska, Illinois and Penn State. Games in 2013-14 the men have won despite trailing in the last three minutes of the game. The Boilermaker women's all-time winning percentage on the road in the Big Ten, which includes Sunday's impressive victory at No. 18 Nebraska. "We've obviously made better decisions down the stretch than we did last year and having more poise late in the game," Painter said of the difference. Purdue has had 12 games this season decided by single-digit margins — and it is 9-3 overall. The wait-until-the-end heroics happened twice again last week. Purdue needed Terone Johnson's three-pointer, a steal and A.J. Hammons' free throw in the final second to escape with a 65-64 victory over Penn State Saturday in Mackey Arena. Tom Campbell Terone Johnson knew how crucial Purdue's victory over Big Tenwinless Penn State was Saturday. "It would have been a bad loss on our résumé," the senior said of the Boilermakers' hopes to reach the NCAA Tournament. GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 17 • 1