Trey Kaufman-Renn's late tip-in sends Purdue to Elite Eight
On3 • • general
Key Points:
- Purdue secured a 79-77 victory over No. 11 seed Texas in the Sweet 16, with Trey Kaufman-Renn scoring a crucial tip-in with 0.7 seconds left, advancing the Boilermakers to the Elite Eight against top-seeded Arizona.
- The win marked the most victories (117) for the senior class of Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith in Purdue history, also setting a record for most NCAA tournament wins by a Purdue class.
- Despite struggling with three-point shooting—only Loyer made multiple threes—Purdue relied on experience, second-chance points, and strong composure to overcome Texas’s rebounding advantage and secure the win.
- Key players included Kaufman-Renn with 20 points, Loyer with 18 points and four 3-pointers, and Smith with 16 points; Texas’s Jordan Pope led all scorers with 29 points despite playing with a broken foot.
- Purdue’s C.J. Cox, recovering from a hyperextended knee, contributed 10 points and hit two critical free throws late in the game, demonstrating resilience and helping Purdue close out the victory.
