In San Jose, with 0.7 seconds remaining at the SAP Center, senior Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped home the decisive basket to lift No. 2 Purdue past No. 11 Texas, 79-77, in the Sweet 16. The finish gave Purdue a spot in Saturday’s Elite Eight against top-seeded Arizona (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS) and marked 117 wins for the Kaufman-Renn–Fletcher Loyer–Braden Smith senior class, breaking the program record. Kaufman-Renn finished with 20 points in the game; Fletcher Loyer scored 18 and Braden Smith added 16. The game featured 16 lead changes and a tense closing sequence that hinged on an offensive rebound and a last-second tip-in.
Key takeaways
- Purdue edged Texas 79-77 in the Sweet 16 at SAP Center on Thursday, advancing to the Elite Eight vs. No. 1 Arizona.
- Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 20 points and delivered a 0.7-second tip-in that decided the contest.
- The Purdue senior class now has 117 wins in four seasons, surpassing the previous mark of 116 and recording its 10th NCAA tournament victory.
- Fletcher Loyer scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers; Braden Smith finished with 16 points and C.J. Cox had 10.
- Jordan Pope led Texas with 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting and later said he played through a broken foot.
- Purdue made only one 3-point shooter besides Loyer and converted 22 second-chance points off 12 offensive rebounds despite being out-rebounded early.
- The teams combined for 16 lead changes and 10 ties, reflecting a back-and-forth contest decided in the final second.
Background
Purdue arrived in San Jose as the No. 2 seed with a veteran core built around seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith. Across four seasons that group has been a foundation of consistent winning for the Boilermakers, culminating in deep NCAA tournament runs and now a program-record 117 victories for that class. Texas, seeded 11th, entered the Sweet 16 having relied on efficient scoring from Jordan Pope and balanced contributions across its rotation. The Longhorns’ path to this matchup included hot shooting stretches and physical rebounding that posed matchup problems for opponents.
Both programs brought contrasting profiles: Purdue emphasizes experienced halfcourt execution, interior size and offensive rebounding, while Texas leaned on high-efficiency shooting from Pope and timely contributions from forwards like Oscar Cluff. The teams met amid the heightened stakes of March, where single-possession moments and coaching adjustments determine continuation. With a regional Final Four berth at stake, each side adjusted minutes and matchups late in games to optimize favorable offensive sets and defensive possessions.
Main event
The finish unfolded after Oscar Cluff’s lay-in and a Braden Smith free throw pushed Purdue ahead 73-70 with 1:33 remaining. Texas answered when Chendell Weaver hit a short jumper to make it 73-72 with 60 seconds to play, and the sequence that followed produced multiple lead changes and fouls. Smith drove and converted a layup at 38.4 seconds, and on the next possession Purdue and Texas jockeyed for position when a foul gave Matas Vokietatis two made free throws to cut the deficit.
Swain then drove and was fouled by Cluff, converting a three-point play that tied the game at 77 with 11.9 seconds left and resulted in Cluff’s fifth foul. On the possession after that, Smith missed a driving layup with 0.7 seconds left; Kaufman-Renn was first to react and pushed the ball off the rim for the winning tip-in. Texas had one final, desperation heave from Jordan Pope that caromed off the backboard and out.
Throughout the game neither team could build sustained separation: Texas reeled off a 19-8 run over a six-minute stretch spanning the late first half and early second half, and Purdue countered with timely baskets and offensive rebounds. Loyer and Kaufman-Renn combined for 25 of Purdue’s 39 first-half points, while Pope carried Texas with an efficient 29-point outing on 11-of-15 shooting. The contest featured frequent momentum swings and defensive adjustments as both coaches sought to limit each other’s strengths.
Analysis & implications
Purdue’s victory reinforced the value of experience and interior presence in late-game situations. Despite a poor night from most of the perimeter — Purdue made only Loyer’s triples and the rest of the rotation went cold from deep — the Boilermakers generated 22 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds, a decisive factor in a two-point game. That offensive-board production mitigated outside shooting woes and created high-percentage opportunities close to the rim.
The win also underscores the strategic trade-offs in tournament basketball: Texas’ ability to limit Purdue’s perimeter shooting mattered less than its difficulty in securing defensive rebounds. Coach Sean Miller pointed to size and boxing-out as the turning point, noting the second-chance advantage that ultimately swung the outcome. For Purdue, the result validates coach Matt Painter’s emphasis on situational discipline and veteran decision-making late in possession.
Looking ahead to the Elite Eight matchup with No. 1 Arizona, Purdue will need to address three-point inconsistency while preserving its rebounding edge. Arizona’s length and athleticism present matchup problems on the glass and in transition; Purdue’s path is likely to involve trying to generate halfcourt advantage through post touches, rebounding and minimizing turnovers. For Texas, the narrow loss spotlights both the upside in Pope’s efficient scoring and the vulnerability on the boards that cost them the final possession.
Comparison & data
| Stat | Purdue | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 79 | 77 |
| Leading scorer | Kaufman-Renn 20 | Pope 29 |
| 3-pointers (team) | 1 of 18 (Loyer 4 threes total) | — |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 (22 second-chance pts) | — |
| Lead changes / ties | 16 lead changes, 10 ties | |
The table highlights the contrast between Purdue’s interior effectiveness and long-range struggles. Purdue’s lone consistent perimeter threat was Loyer, while the bulk of scoring came from close-range efforts and putbacks. Despite being out-rebounded early in the second half, Purdue finished with a 32-31 advantage on the glass and maximized its offensive rebounds into second-chance points — a decisive margin in a two-point game.
Reactions & quotes
After the game, Kaufman-Renn framed the moment with relief and team focus, describing his immediate thought to get back on defense after the tip-in.
“I’m just excited we won the game,”
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue senior
Purdue coach Matt Painter reflected on clock management and emotional control in the final seconds, emphasizing the staff’s role in keeping players composed during chaotic finishes.
“You look at the clock and see what they’re doing…you’ve got to know time and score,”
Matt Painter, Purdue head coach
Texas coach Sean Miller cited Purdue’s offensive rebound on the decisive possession as the play that turned the game and noted it was a teachable moment for his squad.
“They got us with their size on the offensive rebound…we could have done a better job of blocking out,”
Sean Miller, Texas head coach
Unconfirmed
- Extent to which Jordan Pope’s later-revealed broken foot affected his pregame preparation and in-game mobility remains unclear from public reports.
- Whether any officiating review would have changed the final sequence (foul calls or shot-clock timing) has not been raised formally by either program at this time.
Bottom line
Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight on the back of a senior who made the game’s final play, while the win also set a program mark of 117 victories for the current senior class. The game illustrated how experience, offensive rebounding and composure in the closing seconds can overcome shooting droughts from deep. For Purdue, the path forward will require addressing perimeter consistency and preparing for Arizona’s length; for Texas, the loss underscores the need to secure rebounds and sustain defensive discipline in late possessions.
The narrow margin and dramatic finish reinforce the unpredictability of March basketball: single plays decide outcomes, and veteran teams that execute fundamentals often prevail. Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup will test Purdue’s ability to translate its second-chance scoring into success against a top-seeded Arizona team with different physical and matchup challenges.