Minnesota routs Purdue; Ohio State survives Illinois in two OTs

INDIANAPOLIS - Minnesota held No. 6 Purdue to the worst first half in the Boilermakers' record book and rolled to a 69-42 victory in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals Saturday.

Ralph Sampson III scored 13 points for the sixth-seeded Golden Gophers (21-12), who reached the final for the first time. They'll play No. 5 Ohio State Sunday for the championship.

Minnesota led 37-11 at halftime. It was the fewest points by Purdue in a half since the school started keeping track in 1950. Only a late layup by Patrick Bade allowed the Boilermakers to avoid the worst defeat ever in a Big Ten Tournament game.

Colton Iverson scored 11 points and Devoe Joseph 10 as Minnesota won its fourth straight and seventh of nine.

Purdue beat Minnesota twice in the regular season. The Boilermakers had won 13 of 14 and avenged their only loss during that stretch Friday against Northwestern.

JaJuan Johnson scored 17 points and D.J. Byrd 11 for Purdue (27-5).

The Golden Gophers shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded the Boilermakers 50-26.

Ohio State 88, Illinois 81: One day after making a 37-foot buzzer-beater in the quarterfinals, Evan Turner bailed out the No. 5 Buckeyes again, scoring 12 of his 31 points after regulation in the other Big Ten semifinal in Indianapolis.

Turner finished with an unusual triple double - 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 of Ohio State's 18 turnovers. Turner also had six assists and two steals.

Still, Turner and the Buckeyes (26-7) almost didn't get their chance.

Twice Illinois (19-14) had shots at the buzzer for the win. But Mike Davis didn't get a wide- open layup off in time at the end of regulation, and D.J. Richardson missed a long jumper after the red lights lit up on the backboard at the close of the first overtime.

- AP