Final Score: Illinois 71, (9) Purdue 67 (OT)

West Lafayette, IN (Sports Network) - Mike Tisdale scored 18 points to lead the Illinois Fighting Illini to a 71-67 overtime victory over the ninth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers in the Big Ten opener at Mackey Arena.

Alex Legion and Mike Davis both scored 12 points for the Illini (13-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who have won seven straight games. Trent Meacham added 11 points while Demetri McCamey scored 10 in the victory.

"It was a boxing match," said Illinois head coach Bruce Weber. "I just told our guys they are going to jab you and we have to jab back. Good things happen when you have a good attitude and stay determined."

E'Twaun Moore scored 17 points for Purdue (11-3, 0-1), which saw its six-game win streak halted. JaJuan Johnson totaled 16 points and 15 rebounds and had a chance to win the game at the foul line in the final seconds of regulation, but came up short. Lewis Jackson registered 11 points and Robbie Hummel notched seven points and 11 boards in the loss.

The second half began with Illinois holding a three-point lead and the score remained close throughout the first portion of the stanza. With 7:15 to play in the game, a three-pointer by Moore brought Purdue within 43-42.

At the five-minute mark, the contest was knotted at 47-47 before Legion connected from beyond the arc to make it 50-47. Moore answered with a bucket and following an Illinois turnover, Hummel drilled a bucket that was originally counted as a three-pointer but after review it was only worth two and the hosts held a 51-50 lead.

Two foul shots by Tisdale put Illinois back on top, but Moore answered with a field goal on the other end. With just over two minutes to go, two successful shots from the charity stripe by Johnson gave Purdue a 55-52 edge before Meacham drained a bucket to again make it a one-point game with 1:32 on the clock.

A pair of missed shots by both teams eventually led to the Illini gaining possession, and after a timeout with 12.5 seconds to go, Meacham found Davis all alone in the paint and an easy layup gave Illinois a 56-55 lead. The Boilers quickly made their way to the other end and a foul put Johnson on the line with 1.9 ticks to play and two shots with a chance to essentially win it.

Johnson made the first to tie the score at 56-56, but his second attempt hit the front rim and the game went to overtime.

Purdue led 60-58 nearly two minutes into the extra session, but a jumper by Legion from the right side tied it up. A long alley-oop that was converted by Calvin Brock with 2:30 remaining gave Illinois a two-point edge and an ensuing bucket by Davis increased the margin to 64-60 with 1:13 to play.

Foul shots for both teams created a 65-62 score and Moore's driving layup brought Purdue within one with 38 seconds to play. Another free throw gave the visitors a three-point edge and a miss by Moore from the lane was Purdue's final threat.

"First of all, I think Illinois played a great game," said Purdue head coach Matt Painter. "Their ball control was the key to the game. To have 21 assists and only six turnovers is incredible. Also, we have to finish. Whether it's driving to the basket or on offensive rebounds, we have to do a better job of finishing at the rim."

The contest was tight in the first half with the teams trading baskets for most of the opening 20 minutes. Bobby Riddell's three-pointer brought Purdue within 6-4 over five minutes in. Near the midpoint of the stanza, with the Boilermakers holding a four-point lead, Tisdale's bucket cut the Illinois deficit to 12-10.

From there, a 10-2 run by the visitors gave them a 20-14 advantage with just over five minutes to go. The spurt was capped by an Legion basket. Two free throws by Johnson brought his team within 24-22, and after another free throw by Riddell and Meacham's running floater from the lane as the clock expired gave the Illini a 26-23 lead at the break.

Game Notes

Purdue fell to 8-2 at home this season, while Illinois improved to 2-0 on the road...Purdue leads the all-time series, 88-83...Illinois shot 42.9 percent from the field and made only one shot from three-point range (1-of-9)...Purdue won the battle on the glass, 47-41.

12/31 03:00:42 ET