Purdue narrowly escapes with a vital win against Nebraska after a rollercoaster of a game that had fans on the edge of their seats.
In Lincoln, Nebraska, the Boilermakers initially showcased their dominance, establishing an impressive 20-point lead. However, they found themselves in a tight situation, ultimately needing overtime to secure an 80-77 victory thanks to Oscar Cluff’s decisive basket with just 5.2 seconds left in extra time.
From the very beginning, Purdue was on fire, sinking four three-pointers before the first media timeout, while effectively stifling Nebraska's offensive efforts. This led to an early surge, putting them ahead 14-1.
Purdue's control over the boards was evident right from the start, as they amassed 10 second-chance points in the first half alone. With a remarkable 17-rebound advantage over Nebraska, both Trey Kaufman-Renn and Cluff made significant contributions on the glass.
"We had 20 more possessions than them (Nebraska), and we needed every single one of them," remarked Purdue head coach Matt Painter, highlighting the importance of possession in the game.
However, as the second half progressed, Nebraska mounted an 18-2 run, dramatically cutting Purdue's lead to just five points with seven minutes remaining. Yet, clutch three-pointers by CJ Cox and Jack Benter helped Purdue regain some momentum.
Despite this, foul shooting issues plagued Purdue at the end of regulation; missed opportunities on free throws by Fletcher Loyer and others meant they ended the game making only 11 out of 20 attempts from the line.
In overtime, Cluff’s crucial basket lifted Purdue back into the lead, and a turnover by Nebraska sealed their fate, allowing the Boilermakers to leave Lincoln victorious.
"Once I saw Fletch get stuck, I knew he would look for me, and I was ready to catch it and score," Cluff shared, reflecting on the game-winning play.
Fletcher Loyer emerged as Purdue's leading scorer with 18 points, while Braden Smith contributed significantly with 13 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Kaufman-Renn dominated the rebounding category with an impressive 19 boards, and Cluff added 14 rebounds to his tally.
Setting a new school record, Purdue attempted a staggering 46 three-pointers, surpassing their previous high of 36. Notably, Loyer's 17 attempts are the second most in the program’s history, only eclipsed by Carsen Edwards' 19 attempts during the 2019 Elite Eight matchup against Virginia.
Although Purdue made only 13 of their 46 three-point attempts, resulting in a percentage of 28.3%, Coach Painter remained optimistic. "We had numerous excellent looks that unfortunately didn’t convert, especially in the second half, but our players continued to give their all," he said, emphasizing their perseverance.
Looking ahead, Purdue's next challenge will be against Iowa at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena this Saturday evening. In their previous encounter, a strong performance in the second half by Braden Smith led the Boilermakers to a 69-61 victory over the Hawkeyes in West Lafayette last month.
Cluff noted, "This is just the beginning. We have some crucial games coming up and need to maintain our momentum all the way until April."
This thrilling match not only showcased Purdue's resilience but also set the stage for what promises to be an exciting remainder of the season.
