Liam Murphy Was Purdue's Unsung Hero in Win Over Oakland

Liam Murphy had missed his first three attempts from behind the arc when the basketball reached his hands with time expiring in the first half. But with an open look, the senior transfer from North Florida rose confidently, flicked his wrist, and knocked down a triple and sent Purdue into the locker room tied with Oakland and 35-35.

That was just the first of multiple winning plays Murphy made in Friday's 87-77 victory over Oakland. The rest came in a two-minute window in the second half, when the Boilermakers found themselves hanging on by a thread.

Murphy checked back into the game at the 12:17 mark in the second half, with Purdue leading 56-55 after a 6-0 run by Oakland. A mere 18 seconds after returning to the floor, Murphy knocked down his second triple of the game.

On the defensive end following a media timeout, Murphy battled Oakland's Isaac Garrett in the post, forcing him to travel and getting the ball back for the Boilermakers. Just 14 seconds later, Murphy buried another three, giving Purdue a 62-55 advantage.

In a game as tight as Friday night's, Purdue needed someone to provide a spark. In the second half, Murphy was the one to do it.

"It was huge," coach Matt Painter said. "That's what he can do; there's no hesitation. He missed his first couple, then he made that one at the end of the first half. But that stretch right there, where it's a one-possession game and he makes back-to-back threes, that gave us a lift."