- Christopher Galbreath Jr. scored 26 points and Sam Houston State sn

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- From time to time, statistics will contradict results.Heading into Saturdays Big Ten Conference opener at Maryland (3-0), Purdue is last in conference turnover margin at minus-6 and is last in opponents third-down conversion success, allowing 57.1 percent.But if the Boilermakers defeat Maryland, they will have won consecutive games for the first time since 2012. And they would be 3-1 for the first time under Darrell Hazell, now 8-31 in his fourth season at Purdue.A key to being 2-1 is finally having defensive starters DaWan Hunte, the teams most experienced cornerback, and defensive end Austin Larkin healthy. Each missed the seasons first two games because of ankle sprains but returned for Saturdays 24-14 come-from-behind victory against Nevada.Hunte had a team-best eight tackles, including one for loss, and Larkin had a big sack to kill a drive during a game in which the Boilermakers limited the Wolfpack to 33 rushes for 68 yards, including five sacks of quarterback Tyler Stewart.Obviously, well have to keep emphasizing the turnovers, but our guys know that and are working extremely hard to make sure we eliminate the bad parts of our game, Hazell said Tuesday. It absolutely helped us getting those two defensive starters back, especially on the edge where we were able to put them in one-on-one situations and let them make plays.Stewart noticed an improved Purdue defense from what he saw on film, a defense that had not included Hunte nor Larkin in the Boilermakers first two games.I felt like they just played their game, Stewart said. They executed their basic defense.Purdue defensive end Evan Panfil, who had five tackles including four for losses against Nevada, said the Boilermakers finally are at full strength.Were doing a good job shedding blocks, knocking our man back and getting penetration, Panfil said.If the Boilermakers are to win a second in a row for the first time for Hazell, they will need to contain a Maryland running game that is averaging 266.7 yards per game, second in the Big Ten to Ohio States 306 yards.Game notes For the second consecutive game, Purdue will be without starting offensive tackles Matt McCann (sprained ankle) and Martesse Patterson (personal issues). Junior Jalen Neal will start in place of Patterson at left tackle, and fifth-year senior Cameron Cermin will start at right tackle in place of McCann ... Hazell, who enjoys history and politics, got home Monday night in time to watch the final 45 minutes of the presidential debate. I think its interesting to see (Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump) go back and forth, Hazell said. It will be an exciting next couple of months. Hazell declined to say which candidate he supports. Bill Russell Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Marcus Smart Celtics Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.authenticcelticsproshop.com/Danny-Ainge-Jersey/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Robert Williams Celtics Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Robert Parish Jersey . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Christopher Galbreath Jr. scored 26 points and Sam Houston State snapped a short two-game road losing streak with a 79-73 win over Southern Illinois on Saturday.Torry Butler and Aurimas Majausukas added 17 points each for the Bearkats (6-3), with Butler also adding nine rebounds.Sam Houston State hit 54.5 percent of its shots and 15 of 19 at the free throw line.Armon Fletcher and Mike Rodriguez each had 14 points to lead Southern Illinois (5-5), which struggled from field, hittingg only 41.dddddddddddd8 percent overall and 26.1 percent from 3-point range.The Bearkats led the entire second half, and appeared they might blow it open after a Butler layup gave them a 61-48 lead with 9:24 to go. But the Salukis chipped away, cutting it to 68-64 on a Fletcher 3 with 3:50 left.However the Bearkats scored seven of the next nine points to put the game away. ' ' '