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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 17 • 6 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com P urdue didn't look like it had a week to get back to basics in practice before Saturday when it played Penn State. The Boilermakers turned the ball over too much, didn't make free throws in regulation and struggled to defend ball screens, seemingly getting confused on when to switch even if it was in the scouting report. Ultimately, though, Purdue still got what it desperately needed: A road victory in Big Ten play. It had lost nine consecutive true road games before the 84-77 overtime victory at University Park, Pa. Here are takeaways from game: S There needs to be more of a sense of urgency in regards to tak - ing care of the basketball. For the second consecutive game, Purdue struggled with turnovers, follow- ing up a 16-turnover game against Maryland with another 16-turnover game against Penn State. This team needs all the possessions it can get, so valuing the ball is a must. Of course, it doesn't help when seven of those come from one player. Unfortunately, it seems to be just who A.J. Hammons is: A player who can't firmly grasp the basketball often enough on post feeds or be disciplined enough to use one move to get to the basket. He dropped passes, threw them out of bounds, traveled and had offensive fouls off the ball against the Nittany Lions. Though Hammons had a mon - ster game otherwise — finally tak- ing advantage of the mismatches he typically has with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks — he still needs to learn to focus better on the offensive end. S With much of the postgame talk centering on Hammons' double- double and Kendall Stephens' mira- cle three-pointer — well-deserved, considering the poise to race back to the arc and then the skill to sink it at the end of regulation — point guard Jon Octeus' and freshman guard Da- kota Mathias' play may have been lost in the shuffle. Both played well. Octeus had seven assists to only one turnover, hit a couple of big three-pointers in the second half and had four steals, while Mathias appeared a savvy veteran, facilitat- ing Purdue's offense with great ball movement and heady play to the tune of a career-high-tying four as- sists and no turnovers. S Apparently at halftime — when Purdue was trailing by nine — Rapheal Davis went off in the locker room, ac- cording to Hammons. Still, to start the second half, Purdue allowed Penn State to rule the offensive glass for five minutes. Purdue simply can't afford to have a bad night on the boards, considering it should have consistent advantages there. Hammons can't be the only one crashing. Octeus has showed he can be a really good rebounder as a point guard, but he needs to do it more con - sistently, and "power forward" Vince Edwards can't have only one rebound like he had against Penn State. j FLASH FORWARD Opponent: Illinois Location: State Farm Center, Champaign, Ill. When: 9 p.m. Wednesday Notables: The Illini dropped to 2-4 in the Big Ten after an 80-74 loss to Indiana Sunday. … Illinois played four of its first five league games on the road, but now is in the midst of a 4-of-5 game stretch at home. They're 8-1 in Champaign this season. … With Rayvonte Rice (hand) out, sophomore guard Malcolm Hill has ratcheted up his scor- ing, averaging 13.6 points. His 5.5 rebounds per game also lead the team among active players. … But sophomore Kendrick Nunn has scored 49 points in the last two games and is averaging 10.4. Tom Campbell All but one of A.J. Hammons' career double-doubles have come in Big Ten games, and he had another at Penn State with 21 points and 12 rebounds. A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST WEEK OF BASKETBALL M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L G O L D B O X L I N K S T O G A M E S T O R Y