Chris Booker stood confidently at the free throw line Saturday at the Bryce Jordan Center as the undiluted attention of the 8,511 people in attendance rested squarely on him.

There were seven seconds left in Penn State's Big Ten home opener against Purdue and the Lions trailed by two, 80-78. To have a realistic chance to win or tie the game, Penn State needed Booker to falter on at least one of his attempts.

First shot, good. Second shot, good.

Game, set and match for Purdue.

And what a way to end the day for Booker.

Those game-clinching free throws capped a career game for the 6-foot-10 junior forward from Fort Worth, Texas. He poured in 27 points, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and 11-of-12 from the line, and grabbed seven rebounds.

Another stat that goes squarely under his name, yet won't be seen in the stat sheet, is number of hearts broken: 8,511.

"I thought Chris Booker was outstanding tonight," Purdue men's basketball coach Gene Keady said.

"He took smart shots and played hard, I couldn't be happier."

Although he averaged just 10 points per game coming in, Booker knew the Boilermakers' offensive focus would be himself coming in.

"Our scouting report told us that interior defense was not one of their strengths," Booker said in a southern drawl, standing outside the visitor's locker room. "Coach Keady wanted me to get established early and things worked out. I posted hard and played hard."

Booker's play inside was matched by the Lions' Aaron Johnson, a freshman walk-on who, after putting up 20 points and 12 rebounds against the Boilermakers on Saturday, has become both an inspiration and revelation for Penn State.

But the difference lies in how Booker did it. Johnson was magnificent at times, but Booker was there when his team needed him the most.

He completed four opposition-deflating three-point plays and at times single-handedly kept the game from getting away from Purdue.

"Booker's a great player," Johnson said. "He does a good job of getting position and he uses his experience well. Our big guys are young and he used that to his advantage."

With the Lions up 59-53 and on a 24-5 scoring run, Booker took a pass from Demetrious Kilgore, sliced to the basket and converted the layup while being fouled by Penn State's Jan Jagla.

A rocking Jordan Center fell silent and momentum shifted.

The previous delirium of the glory-starved Penn State faithful turned to caution and concern and the remorseless seed of doubt had been planted in the minds of the Nittany Lion Nation.

All compliments of Chris Booker.