CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Sophomore Alan Griffin has been a crowd favorite in Champaign since last season, and he continues to make a case for breaking into the Illinois starting lineup.
On Sunday night, Griffin scored 16 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and the Illini beat Purdue 63-37.
Griffin, a 6-foot-5 guard, recorded the first double-double of his career for Illinois (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten).
“I just try to bring positives to every game,” Griffin said. “I look to be an energy boost off the bench. And I try to do that every game, just give effort.”
His coach likes what he’s seen so far.
“His energy and motor are just phenomenal,” said Illinois coach Brad Underwood. “Alan doesn’t know any other way to play.”
Trent Frazier and Kofi Cockburn added 12 points each for the Illini.
Sasha Stefanovic led Purdue (9-6, 2-2) with eight points. Eric Hunter Jr. added seven for the Boilermakers, who never led.
“When you play a team with two big guys like that (7-footer Cockburn and 6-foot-9 Giorgi Bezhanishvili) who clog up the middle, it’s tough to win,” said Purdue coach Matt Painter. “Our defense wasn’t bad tonight; we just kept missing layups and shots in close.”
