Purdue upsets No. 2 Duke to claim Great Alaska Shootout title
ANCHORAGE - Purdue has the reputation of a big-bodied, hard-banging team that scores most of its points inside, but it was the Boilermakers' outside-shooting guards who were the key to upsetting No. 2 Duke on Saturday.
Kenneth Lowe scored 22 points and David Teague added a career-high 19 as Purdue defeated No. 2 Duke 78-68 in the title game of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout.
Combined, Lowe and Teague were 13-for-25 from the field including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. Lowe was named tournament MVP.
Coach Gene Keady said the Boilermakers' game-breaking second-half run started with a different wrinkle to his offense.
"We changed our offense and got the ball to Kenny," he said.
Duke coach Mike Kryzewski agreed Lowe was the key.
"Lowe was the difference - a powerful leader," Kryzewski said. "He's strong and he gives his team confidence."
Teague had averaged just six points in his first three games.
"It was just a matter of time before Teague was going to break out," Keady said.
Duke's guards shot just 11-for-28 including 4-for-14 from 3-point range and the team shot 32 percent in the second half.
Kryzewski said the Blue Devil offense is not real good right now.
"We haven't executed on the offensive end like we can, and we have to do, and that puts a lot of pressure on our defense," Kryzewski said. "Our offense did not help our defense."
He said the team learned a lot about itself in the loss.
"Purdue is stronger, and when a team is physical, you have to execute better," Kryzewski said.
Duke didn't need an outside game early. The Blue Devils scored eight of its first nine field goals in the paint. Shelden Williams had 10 of the Blue Devils first 13 points and Shavlick Randolph followed with two more buckets underneath the basket for an 18-13 lead.
Purdue stayed close by forcing a dozen first-half turnovers. Teague's transition basket at 7:17 gave the Boilermakers a 24-23 lead and there were five more lead changes and two ties before the half.