Chris Kramer makes a pass after picking up a loose ball on the floor between Penn State's Stanley Pringle and Talor Battle during the first half. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Feb. 5, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Robbie Hummel scored 17 points and E'Twaun Moore added 16 to help No. 24 Purdue beat Penn State 67-53 on Tuesday night.

Marcus Green scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half for the Boilermakers (18-5, 9-1 Big Ten), who won their eighth straight to move into sole possession of first place in the league.

Mike Walker scored 12 points and Danny Morrissey added 11 for Penn State (11-11, 3-7).

It was Purdue's first game as a ranked team in four years. The win gave the Boilermakers their best conference start since the 1989-90 season.

Moore had his second consecutive strong outing. He scored 20 points in the second half of a win at Illinois last Saturday.

Penn State was coming off a win against No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday. The Nittany Lions couldn't duplicate that success because of 38 percent shooting in the second half. The Nittany Lions also shot 36 percent from the free throw line.

Purdue won both games against Penn State this season and its fourth straight overall in the series. The Boilermakers won 64-42 at Penn State on Jan. 23

Purdue led 39-36 before Green scored on a putback and was fouled by Jamelle Cornley. Green made the free throw, and Cornley left the game for good with a bloody lip. Cornley finished with eight points and six rebounds.

Purdue led 48-43 before going on an 8-0 run during which four different players scored. Purdue held the Nittany Lions scoreless for nearly 5 minutes during that stretch. The final points during that run were two free throws by Hummel with 7:19 to play that gave the Boilermakers a 56-43 lead. The Nittany Lions never came closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Purdue reserve forward Scott Martin left the game midway through the first half with a right ankle injury and did not return.