WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Montrell Lowe rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as Purdue snapped a two-game losing streak with a 24-14 Big Ten Conference victory over Michigan State.
Lowe carried 28 times, scoring on a 10-yard run with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter and a two-yard run that gave the Boilermakers a 17-7 lead five seconds into the fourth period.
Michigan State (5-4, 3-4 Big Ten) closed within three on Damon Dowdell's one-yard burst with 9:05 to play, but Purdue clinched the win on Craig Terrill's 12-yard fumble return for a score with 7:11 to go.
Purdue (6-3, 4-3) needs to win one of its final two games against Indiana and Notre Dame to become bowl eligible.
Purdue's Brandon Hance completed just seven of 12 passes for 65 yards before being replaced by Kyle Orton for the second straight week. Orton was six of nine for 61 yards.
Dowdell, replacing the injured Jeff Smoker, completed 24 of 45 passes for 304 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, but 250-pound running back T.J. Duckett was held to just 19 yards on 11 carries.
Charlie Rogers caught seven passes for 108 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown that gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead four minutes into the contest.
The Spartans have two dropped two straight since their last-second victory over Michigan and need to win their last two contests against Penn State and Missouri to become bowl eligible.
Purdue has won four of the last five against Michigan State to cut the Spartans' lead in the all-time series to 28-25-3.
