Three key plays by the University of Hawai'i defense in the final minutes of the game helped the Warriors to a dramatic victory over the Big Ten's Purdue, 42-35, last night at Aloha Stadium.

The defense picked off Curtis Painter twice on Purdue's final two drives to end any hopes of a Boilermaker upset over the No. 25 Warriors.

"We knew if we gave our offense the ball back, no one in the country could stop them," said cornerback Gerard Lewis, whose interception set up Hawai'i's go-ahead score.

The Warriors shut out the Boilermakers in the first half — the second time this season it happened to Purdue — and 166 yards of total offense, sending UH into the locker room with a 17-0 lead.

"They played so good in the first half, but we have to remember to keep playing," Hawai'i defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "We screwed up a couple times but we found a way to win."

Purdue scored touchdowns on its first five drives of the second half to take a 35-27 lead.

But with the game tied at 35 and the Boilermakers driving down the field, linebacker Blaze Soares sacked Painter at the Purdue 27-yard line.

"I came off the end and Solomon (Elimimian) got the back to chase him, so it opened the window for me," said Soares, who recorded his second sack of the season. "It was all Solomon."

On the next play, Lewis picked off Painter's pass, giving Hawai'i's offense a chance to take the lead back, which it did on a Colt Brennan touchdown pass to Ian Sample.

"We needed a big play. We knew we needed a turnover to win the game," Lewis said. "I was back in coverage and he tried to throw it to another dude and I ran over there and picked the ball off."

It was Lewis' third interception of the season, tying him for the team lead with Leonard Peters.

With Hawai'i up 42-35, linebacker Adam Leonard ended all hope for Purdue, picking off Painter with 34 seconds left.

"I had to jam the outside receiver and make him come inside," said Leonard, whose pick was the first of his UH career. "I was in the right position where the coaches wanted me to be. (Painter) threw the ball and I just put my hands up and caught the ball. The quarterback read something that wasn't there.

"We had to make a stop so it wouldn't go into overtime. The defense went out there knowing we needed to make a play; either three-and-out or we needed to get the ball back."

Purdue's final two drives totalled 21 yards, after it racked up 285 yards earlier in the half.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.