Wilmont Helps Lift Indiana Over Purdue

Roderick Wilmont waited two years to make a difference for Indiana.

He delivered Tuesday night at Bloomington, Ind.

Wilmont scored his six points on consecutive three-point baskets in the final minute against 21st-ranked Purdue, helping the Hoosiers fend off a second-half rally and defeat the Boilermakers, 63-58, their first victory over a ranked team this season.

“You can’t tell Rod not to shoot it, because he can shoot,” Coach Mike Davis said with a chuckle. “It doesn’t look like it sometimes, but he can shoot the basketball.”

Wilmont, a redshirt freshman, had been averaging 3.6 points, with only nine three-pointers in 16 games.

Indiana (11-6, 5-1) stayed atop the Big Ten standings with its fifth victory in a row. The Boilermakers dropped to 14-5, 4-2.

No. 14 Georgia Tech 76, Clemson 69 -- B.J. Elder hardly resembled the guy who had been shooting less than 31% in conference games, scoring a career-high 36 points to lead the Yellow Jackets (16-3, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Atlanta.

It was the most points by a Georgia Tech player since James Forrest scored 36 against Maryland in 1994.

The Yellow Jackets handed Clemson (8-10, 1-6) its fourth consecutive defeat.

No. 22 Florida 88, Alabama 78 -- Anthony Roberson scored 26 points and David Lee had 24, giving the Gators (13-4, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) an overpowering inside-outside combination at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Kennedy Winston, who made five second-half three-pointers, led Alabama (11-6, 3-3) with 25 points.