Boilermakers Advance to 2026 Sweet Sixteen After Defeating the Miami Hurricanes
The second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers faced the seventh-seeded Miami Hurricanes in the Round of 32. Both teams dominated their first-round games, with the winner set to play the 11th-seeded Texas Longhorns in the Sweet Sixteen. Led by Braden Smith, the NCAA’s newly crowned all-time assist leader, Purdue looked strong. Miami’s new head coach, Jai Lucas, continued to resurge on the team’s turnaround. Eager to assert control, both teams started aggressively, but the Boilermakers pulled ahead and defeated Miami 79-69.
The Hurricanes struck first, taking an early lead with an alley-oop by Ernest Udeh Jr., assisted by Tre Donaldson. Shortly after, Dante Allen hit a three-pointer for a five-point lead to start the first half. Miami would continue to lead with Purdue close behind, keeping the game close. Then, Fletcher Loyer, the Boilermakers' three-point leader, made the first lead change of the game with a basket, putting Purdue ahead 11-10. Momentum shifted to the Boilermakers, who built their lead with a series of free throws and layups. Loyer stayed hot, hitting another three-point shot, which prompted Miami to call a timeout.
After the timeout, the Hurricanes clawed back within one after a jumpshot by Shelton Henderson. The Boilermakers responded with a hook shot by Trey Kaufman-Renn and free throws, regaining a multi-possession lead. Soon after, Henderson tied it with a layup and then dunked to put Miami ahead. With just under two minutes to go, Purdue had already reached its season average of seven turnovers as Miami went on a nine-point run. However, Purdue responded when C.J. Cox hit three three-pointers, revitalizing the offense and evening the score. The last points of the half went to Donaldson, and the Hurricanes led by two at halftime. Henderson led Miami with 10 points, and Kaufman-Renn led Purdue with 12. Shooting was excellent in the first half, with both teams over 50% from the field.
The second half began with Malik Reneau kicking off the scoring for the Hurricanes with a driving layup. In response, Loyer answered for the Boilermakers with a three-point shot assisted by Smith to put Purdue within one. A layup by Cox and a couple of free throws put the Boilermakers ahead by five, as Cox goes down with an injury and is questionable to return with a leg injury. Donaldson closes the gap with a three, putting the Hurricanes within two, but the Boilermakers retained their lead with a three by Loyer, who continued to impress as he was five for five from the field with 12:16 to go. Both teams exchange blows after a layup by Henderson is answered with a fadeaway from Smith. However, Purdue pulls ahead after a layup from Loye, and Kaufman-Renn makes an additional layup while drawing the foul to give the Boilermakers an eight-point lead with just under nine minutes to go.
Cox, who was questionable after going down with a leg injury, is back on the bench with seven and a half to go in the half, making a much-needed return to the Boilermaker lineup. A layup by Oscar Cluff gives Purdue its largest lead of the day with a score of 64 to 55. Henderson makes a two-point putback dunk, but it doesn’t faze the Boilermakers, who continue to tack on to their lead. Smith continues to have an uncharacteristic day as Henderson steals a bad pass, making his seventh turnover of the day. Cluff goes to the line for free throws and misses the first of the Boilermakers' free throws, who had been perfect up to that point, with 15 out of 16 free throws made. Miami came within four with just under a minute to go after Tru Washington made a put-back layup with 57 seconds to go.
Miami is forced to draw a foul after Kaufman-Renn comes down with the defensive rebound and sends Smith to the line. A missed three-point shot by Donaldson rebounded by the Boilermakers and sealed the game for Purdue. The Boilermakers held a 10-point lead after Loyer was sent to the line. Purdue’s win today over the Miami Hurricanes marks their seventh trip to the Sweet Sixteen, to take on the Texas Longhorns on Thursday, March 26th.
