Purdue looks to carry over the momentum from an upset win against Illinois on the road. The Boilermakers are at No. 18 Michigan State today.

Guards Keith Appling and Gary Harris are averaging 14.9 and 12.3 points, respectively for the Spartans.

Purdue coach Matt Painter stressed taking care of the ball and taking good shots as keys heading into the first conference road game.

"Michigan State has always been good at home – period – and at their runs. If you have two or three of those, that's the difference in the game," Painter said. "It's going to be important for us to play within ourselves, to have some patience and to be able to move the basketball, especially when the crowd gets into it. That's easier said than done when you get into a tough environment like that."

Rebounding will again be a key.

Purdue is fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (plus-8.7) and second in the conference in offensive rebounding.

The Spartans rank fourth in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (plus-9). Derrick Nix is tied for third in the conference in rebounding (7.5 per game). Adreian Payne is sixth (7.4) in the same category.