Purdue vs Texas – Final Score and Key Moments

Executive Summary: In a back‑and‑forth Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament game (March 26, 2026), No. 2 Purdue edged No. 11 Texas 79–77 in San Jose, CA. Purdue’s Trey Kaufman‑Renn tipped in a Braden Smith miss with 0.7 seconds left for the game‐winning basket.

Texas’s Dailyn Swain had just tied it at 77–77 with an and‐one layup with 11.9 seconds remaining. Purdue overcame a hot start by Texas’s Tramon Mark (29 points) and an injury to Mark late in the game. Key momentum swings included Purdue’s early 6‑0 run (on two Fletcher Loyer threes)

Texas rallying to close the first half, Texas taking a second-half lead, and the furious finish. Purdue shot 48% (30/62) as a team, with a sturdy offense and free‑throw shooting (15/20 FT, 75%) countering Texas’s 52% FG (11/25 on threes).

The victory advances Purdue (30‑8) to the Elite Eight. (Source)

Final Score and Box Score Summary

• Top scorers: Texas – Tramon Mark 29, Dailyn Swain 15, Jordan Pope 12, Matas Vokietaitis 9, Nic Codie 5; Purdue – Trey Kaufman‑Renn 20, Fletcher Loyer 18, Braden Smith 16, Oscar Cluff 11, C.J. Cox 10.
• Team stats: Texas shot a red‑hot 44% on threes (11/25), far above Purdue’s 20%. Purdue dominated the free‑throw line (75% vs Texas 53%). Turnovers were minimal (Texas 7, Purdue 4). The rebounding battle was nearly even (Purdue 32, Texas 31).

Box Score Highlights (Top 5 Plays)

• Q1 – Purdue 6–0 start (Loyer threes): Fletcher Loyer nailed back‑to‑back corner threes at game’s start, sparking a 6–0 Purdue run.
• Q1 – Texas answers (Mark drives): Tramon Mark scored 10 of Texas’s next 21 points, including a driving layup and jumper, giving Texas a 21–18 lead mid-1st half.
• Q2 – Purdue regains lead: Late in 2nd quarter, Loyer hit another long 3 (with 1:03 left), pushing Purdue ahead 39–35 at half.
• Q2 – Harris dunk (assist Smith): Freshman Gicarri Harris threw down an emphatic one‑handed dunk on an assist from Smith (first half), exemplifying Purdue’s interior threat (see image below).
  Image: Purdue freshman Gicarri Harris dunks in the first half (AP Photo)[SOURCE].
• Q4 – Texas ties late: With 11.9 seconds left in the 4th, Texas’s Dailyn Swain drove for a layup, was fouled, and converted the three‑point play to tie the game 77–77.
• Q4 – Purdue wins on tip: Braden Smith’s layup attempt (off a ball‑screen drive) missed; Trey Kaufman‑Renn tipped it in with 0.7 seconds remaining for the 79–77 Purdue win.

Key Timeline and Momentum Shifts

• Early 1st Quarter: Purdue raced to a quick lead (6–0) on two Loyer threes[3]. Texas clawed back, and by 10:48 in Q1 the Longhorns led 21–18 as Mark attacked the rim.
• First Half Run: Loyer’s late-Q2 three gave Purdue a 39–35 halftime lead. Purdue shot 53.1% in the half, outrebounding Texas 18–13.
• Second Half Shifts: Early in the 2nd half Texas got hot from deep; Mark’s jumper gave Texas a 49–45 lead at the 15:37 mark (Mark had briefly left after an ankle injury at 16:20 of 1st half, then returned at 13:09 of 2nd). The teams traded leads down the stretch.
• Crunch Time: In the final minute, Texas narrowed it. With 1:03 to play, Chendall Weaver tipped in a putback to pull Texas within 73–72. After exchanged free throws, Swain’s and‑1 with 11.9s tied it, but Purdue’s last‑second tip put them ahead.

Tactical Notes

Purdue’s inside-outside balance prevailed. With Carlton “Clif” Boilermakers star Trey Kaufman‑Renn (Montenegrin big) starting 6‑for‑6, Purdue attacked the paint; he finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Braden Smith deftly ran the offense (5 ast) and also got to the line. Purdue shot poorly (4/20) from 3pt, but did damage with mid‑range and free throws (15/20). Texas often denied passes and pressured Purdue’s ball screens, as noted in pregame, but Purdue countered by living inside and spacing around Smith.

Defensively, Purdue used its size to rebound and contest: Texas was held under its average (Texas grabbed 31 boards vs. ~31.4 season avg). Texas coach Sean Miller had his 7‑foot center Matas Vokietaitis defending but pulled him in final seconds, letting forwards help on Smith’s drives. Texas struggled to hit 3s early (just 6-of-16 by half) despite ultimately going 11-for-25. Guard Tramon Mark attacked aggressively (leading scorer) but was slowed by an ankle injury (fouled at 16:20, left game, then returned limp at 13:09). Texas’s runs depended heavily on Mark and Swain penetrating; Purdue’s clamps keyed the final stops.

Statistical Context

• Season vs. Game Efficiency: Purdue, ranked #1 in offensive efficiency (KenPom), shot 48% FG (vs. its 50.3% season average). Texas shot 52% (above its 48.3% season FG) and 44% from three (vs. its ~37% average). Purdue’s effective FG% was about 51.6%, Texas’s was 61.6%.
• Turnovers: Both teams were careful: Texas turned it over 7 times (below its ~10.5-season average) and Purdue only 4, leading to long possessions.
• Rebounding: Purdue’s 32 rebounds (50% of available) included 12 offensive boards. Texas also had 12 offensive rebounds. The dead ball rebounding was nearly 50-50 (Texas’s 31 vs Purdue’s 32 total boards).
• Efficiency Metrics: Purdue got to the line 20 times (making 75%); Texas only 15 (making 53%). Purdue’s offense “lived at the free‑throw line” as noted, a key habit this season (they average ~22 FTA/game).
• Relative Rankings: Purdue was a 2‑seed in the West Region (Big Ten, 13‑7 conference), Texas was an 11‑seed (SEC, 9‑10 conference). Purdue’s victory was in line with its defensive profile (Purdue’s defense allowed 44.6% FG on average, Texas shot 52% above that).

Postgame Quotes and Reactions

Purdue guard Braden Smith captured the dramatic finish: “I was standing under the rim, I said ‘Please go in there… Trey tipped it perfectly and I was like ‘Thank God that went in.’”. Coach Matt Painter praised his senior leaders and the balanced team effort, noting Purdue’s rebounds and free throws. Texas coach Sean Miller lamented Mark’s injury and praised his team’s run; senior Mark scored 29 (the most by any Texas player in the Tournament since 2007) despite limping in the last minutes.

Implications

Purdue (30‑8) advances to its fourth Elite Eight in five seasons, set to face the winner of Arizona (34‑2) vs. Arkansas. The win gave Purdue its 30th victory (just the third 30-win season in school history). Purdue, projected as a Final Four contender, will rise in both polls (they finished the season roughly ranked top 5). For Texas (21‑15), the run ends. Their upset over Gonzaga (11‑seed beating 3‑seed) was the highlight, but they fall short of a Cinderella Elite Eight. The tight finish underscores Purdue’s veteran poise in March and Texas’s competitive grit.

Sources: Official box scores and stats[4][8], AP game recap[33], Purdue athletics press release[34], ESPN game coverage[4], and other primary sports media (CBS/ESPN analyses, team notes).