JaJuan Johnson scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping No. 12 Purdue to an 81-70 victory over Illinois on Sunday afternoon in Champaign, Ill.

The Boilermakers (20-5, 9-3 Big Ten) pulled ahead with a 10-0 run early in the second half, then added a 12-2 burst to stretch the lead into double digits, 57-46, with 9:32 to go. Illinois got as close as six in the closing minutes but could not complete the comeback.

Purdue picked up a game on first-place Ohio State and now sits in a second-place tie with Wisconsin in the Big Ten, two games behind the Buckeyes.

Purdue shot just 28.6 percent from the floor in the first half but turned things around after the break, hitting 17 of 32 field goals en route to 53 second-half points.

The Boilermakers also dominated the glass in the second half, outrebounding the Illini by a 28-11 margin in the final 20 minutes.

Brandon Paul scored 23 points to lead the Fighting Illini (16-9, 6-6), while Mike Davis added 16 points.

E'Twaun Moore added 20 points for Purdue, including a 10-of-12 effort from the foul line.