Purdue edges Texas 79-77 on last-second buzzer-beater, advances to Elite Eight

Show summary Hide summary

• 🔥 Quick Facts
• Kaufman-Renn’s Late Heroics Stun Texas in March Madness Thriller
• Loyer Ignites Purdue’s Firepower in Second Half Comeback
• Texas Pushes Favorites in David vs Goliath Sweet 16 Battle
• Purdue Seniors Begin Final March with Championship Aspirations
• What Does This Dramatic Win Mean for Purdue’s National Championship Dreams?
  • Sources

Purdue basketball delivered pure March Madness drama last night. Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped in the game-winner at the buzzer as the No. 2 seed Boilermakers edged No. 11 Texas 79-77 in a thrilling Sweet 16 matchup. The Longhorns mounted a furious comeback, but Purdue’s veteran trio sealed the upset bid and advanced to the Elite Eight.

Kaufman-Renn’s Late Heroics Stun Texas in March Madness Thriller

Trey Kaufman-Renn delivered the dagger when Purdue needed it most. The junior forward tipped in a miss at the buzzer to complete one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Texas fought back from a 72-70 deficit with under two minutes remaining, forcing overtime heartbreak. Instead, Kaufman-Renn’s tip-in sealed the 79-77 victory and sent the Big Ten team dancing into the Elite Eight.

The Longhorns had scraped and clawed to nearly pull off the upset. Garcia’s late bucket had given them a 77-75 lead with seconds on the clock. But Purdue refused to fold. The experience of three battle-tested seniors proved decisive in the final frame.

Loyer Ignites Purdue’s Firepower in Second Half Comeback

Fletcher Loyer led the offensive charge for the Boilermakers, scoring 24 points to anchor Purdue’s attack. Braden Smith, the NCAA all-time assists leader, orchestrated the offense with precision throughout. The senior duo combined with Kaufman-Renn to form a rarefied trio that each boasted 145 games in a Purdue uniform.

Loyer went 5-for-12 from three-point range and found easy baskets against a Texas defense stretched thin by the second half. His clutch mid-range shooting in the final five minutes kept Purdue within striking distance when the Longhorns rallied.

Texas Pushes Favorites in David vs Goliath Sweet 16 Battle

Matchup Factor	Purdue (2)	Texas (11)
Seed	No. 2	No. 11
Final Record	29-8	21-14
Leading Scorer	Fletcher Loyer 24 pts	Tre Garcia 18 pts
Recent Form	Beat Miami 79-69 R2	Upset storyline seeds

Texas arrived in San Jose as the lowest remaining seed in the Sweet 16 and showed why upsets define March. The Longhorns kept pace with the higher-seeded Boilermakers for 38 minutes, trading buckets and defensive stands. Texas was among the final at-large selections to make the NCAA tournament, yet pushed one of the elite programs in college basketball to the final buzzer.

Coach Matt Painter’s squad held thin advantages throughout, but never truly separated. The Longhorns refused to surrender despite being double-digit underdogs entering the gym.

Purdue Seniors Begin Final March with Championship Aspirations

“This team has proven it can win in clutch moments. These three seniors have played in enough tournament games to stay calm when everything is on the line.”

— March Madness analysts, referencing Purdue’s experience advantage

Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn each faced their final Sweet 16 of their college careers Thursday night. The trio combined for 145 career starts in gold and black, making them among the most experienced groups ever assembled on a Purdue roster. Their poised response to Texas’s fourth-quarter pressure showcased why experience matters in tournament basketball.

Purdue’s path to the championship now runs through the Elite Eight on Saturday. The Boilermakers will face the winner of the Arizona vs Arkansas matchup from the West Regional, setting up the next chapter in their championship quest.

What Does This Dramatic Win Mean for Purdue’s National Championship Dreams?

Survival is the name of the game in March, and Purdue lived to fight another day. Escaping San Jose with a tournament win despite a furious Texas rally demonstrates the mental toughness required to cut down the nets in April. Kaufman-Renn’s heroic tip-in will echo as the sort of moment that separates Final Four teams from tournament casualties.

Now the Elite Eight awaits, with the Boilermakers riding momentum from the most dramatic finish imaginable. For Texas, an impressive tournament run ended just short of immortality, but the program proved it belongs among the nation’s elite.

Sources

• CBS Sports – Live coverage of March Madness 2026 Sweet 16 games and final scores
• Yahoo Sports – Purdue 79, Texas 77 game report and tournament bracket updates
• ESPN – Box score details and player statistics from NCAA tournament