FORT WAYNE – The shots weren’t falling for Terone Johnson in the first half of Tuesday’s game against Iowa.

Purdue’s coaching staff told the sophomore guard to stay aggressive.

The advice helped. Johnson scored all 10 of his points in the second half to help Purdue rally for a 75-68 victory.

It was the third consecutive double-digit scoring performance for Johnson.

He’ll look to continue the streak today when Purdue (14-5, 4-2 Big Ten) travels to No. 9 Michigan State (15-4, 4-2).

Johnson is averaging 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.2 minutes off the bench. He’s averaging 9.8 points in the last five games and said the key has been “staying aggressive.”

“In the Minnesota game, I felt like I was really being aggressive and the next game, just being aggressive again,” Johnson said after the Iowa game. “ … In the second half (Tuesday), I felt like I picked it up, and it helped.”

Johnson scored 10 points in the 79-66 victory against Minnesota on Jan. 8. He scored a career-high 16 points in the 67-62 loss to Wisconsin on Jan. 12. Johnson went 4 of 10 from the floor (4 of 7 in the second half) Tuesday against the Hawkeyes.

“He’s done a better job defensively,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “If you play better defense, I’ll play you. It’s no big secret around here.”

Johnson is averaging 1.3 steals in Big Ten games. He ranks second on the team with 23 steals this season.

“He’d play more if he were more consistent from the line,” Painter said. “I’d have him in there in the end.”

Johnson has made just 18 of 52 free throws (34.6 percent). He has improved in conference games, going 10 of 22 from the line (45.5 percent). He made 6 of 8 free throws against Wisconsin and 2 of 4 against Iowa.

“He made some big baskets for us (against Iowa), made some good plays on the offensive end,” Painter said. “But what gets him in the game is doing some little things; rebounding the basketball and covering his man.”

Purdue is tied with Michigan State and Ohio State for third place in the bunched up Big Ten standings.

The Spartans are coming off a 60-59 loss at Michigan on Tuesday. Derrick Nix scored 13 points and Keith Appling finished with 10 points. But Appling and Draymond Green combined for nine turnovers.

Green and Appling are the team’s top two scorers at 15.4 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Green also leads Michigan State in rebounding at 10.1 per game.

After losing their first two games, the Spartans ran off 15 consecutive victories. They are currently on a two-game losing streak, falling at Northwestern and Michigan.

Michigan State is back home, but Purdue has victories in its last two trips to the Breslin Center.

lpope@jg.net