Final Score: Purdue 79, Nebraska 61

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Anthony Johnson scored 17 points, leading five players in double figures, as Purdue dispensed with Nebraska, 79-61, in the opening round of the 2012 Big Ten Conference Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Also scoring in double figures for sixth-seeded Purdue (21-11) was Terone Johnson with 16 points, Ryne Smith 15 and both Robbie Hummel and D.J. Byrd with 10 points apiece in the victory.

Leading the way for the 11th-seeded Cornhuskers (12-18) in their first Big Ten Conference Tournament after coming over from the Big 12, was Bo Spencer who tallied a game-high 22 points, while Toney McCray accounted for 13 points and eight rebounds and Dylan Talley 10 points.

Nebraska was able to move out to a four-point lead at the 14:40 mark of the first half, but the team shot only 3-of-12 behind the three-point line in the period, compared to the Boilermakers who knocked down 7-of-13 on the perimeter in order to take a 39-31 lead at the break.

In the second half Purdue once again shot the ball well out from three-point range (6-of-12) in order to cruise to the 18-point win.

Purdue made up for a mere 10-of-18 showing at the free-throw line by hitting on 13-of-25 from the outside and 56.0 percent from the field overall.

With the victory the Boilermakers advance to the quarterfinals on Friday night where they will tangle with third-seeded Ohio State.

03/08 22:35:59 ET