CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Purdue turned to Robbie Hummel Wednesday and the senior delivered with 19 points to help Purdue hold off struggling Illinois 67-62.

Three other Boilermakers scored in double figures. Lewis Jackson and D.J. Byrd added 13 points each and Terone Johnson scored 12 for Purdue (17-9, 7-6 Big Ten).

The Illini (16-10, 5-8) repeatedly closed to within two over the game’s final 10 minutes. But the Boilermakers found a way to fight away every time.

The last came on Hummel’s free throw with 19.5 seconds to play that put the Boilers up 65-62. With Illinois forced to foul, Hummel then sank two more.

Freshman Tracy Abrams led Illinois with a career-high 22 points. Brandon Paul added 19.

Purdue led 36-28 at the half but Abrams breathed a little life into the Illini early in the second half. He scored the half’s first five points, including two on a drive to the basket with 18:10 to play that pulled Illinois to within 36-33.

But again and again, key buckets from Hummel, Byrd and Johnson held the Illini at arm’s length.

Midway through the second half, Illinois twice closed to within two. But, as if someone was trying to tell them it wasn’t their night, Purdue hit on a pair of unlikely shots.

First, Byrd sank a jump shot as he fell to the floor, opening the Boilermakers’ lead back up to 53-49 with 9:04 to play. After Paul pulled Illinois back to 53-51, Johnson hit a three-pointer. With 8:09 to go, Purdue led 56-51.

Paul missed a three-pointer on the run with 9 seconds left, and, when the ball shot out of bounds off a pair of Illinois hands, Hummel pumped his first and shouted “Yes!” as he celebrated.

Purdue has won its last two to stay in the top half of the Big Ten. Illinois has lost seven of its last eight and with five conference games left, finds itself off the NCAA bubble and coach Bruce Weber is feeling the heat. Some Illini fans have been calling for him to be fired.