Purdue guard Lance Jones has an underrated skill, a skill that forces him to give up his body, a skill that often goes unnoticed to the untrained eye. That skill is the ability to force opposing teams to commit offensive fouls.

Doing so requires him to slam his body full speed into a moving screen, or to step in front of a hard-charging drive to the basket. Those plays are often momentum shifters. The type of play that gets the crowd energized and endears you to your teammates. During a March 15 game against Michigan State, Jones drew five offensive fouls, putting the Spartans in foul trouble and helping Purdue pull out a 67-62 win.

Those are plays you make when your main goal is winning, and that's all the transfer from Southern Illinois has focused on since joining the Boilermakers this season.

"When I committed here, I knew what sacrifices I had to make," Jones said. "To be on a team that's in the Elite Eight currently, I would give up anything, whether that's scoring or doing whatever I used to do.

"It's bigger than me. I go to war with these guys every day, and I'll give up anything to fight for them and do whatever is necessary to win."

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Purdue's 80-68 Sweet 16 win over Gonzaga is its 32nd win of the season. In four years at SIU the Salukis topped 20 wins just once and never reached the NCAA tournament. Jones is one of two former Salukis still in the NCAA tournament, as Marcus Domask has emerged as a key player during Illinois' run to the Elite Eight.

On Friday, Jones scored 12 points, all in the first half and showed why he was the missing link from Purdue's team last season.

"He's been a great addition for them this year," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "I think they added some athleticism, quickness and the ability to pick up full court. He kind of dogs the point guard and causes a couple of collisions that were offensive fouls on screens."

Jones has quickly ingrained himself into the Boilermaker culture. At SIU, Jones did everything. He averaged 30 minutes a game his final three seasons in Carbondale and averaged 12.5 shots as a senior. Jones averages fewer than 10 shots per game with the Boilermakers, but he's increased his efficiency. Defensively, Jones is the anchor of the scheme, often tasked with guarding the opposing team's top playmaker the entire length of the court.

"Lance, in my opinion, I think he's one of the best defenders in all of college basketball," Purdue freshman Camden Heide said. "When he is locked in and he's putting pressure on the ball, it is hard for anyone to score against him."

Purdue coach Matt Painter credits the unselfish nature of the entire team for helping it get to this point. Players like Jones and Ethan Morton have accepted their roles and brought much needed toughness to the program. For Jones to do it in his first year speaks to his high character and the standard set by the Boilermakers.

"Everybody helps us," Painter said. "Even some guys that didn't play much or play at all. Just having a great attitude and sticking with it and understanding the team's above everything else."

This team is one more win away from reaching where the program hasn't been in nearly 35 years.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball got exactly what it needed from Lance Jones