Imagine watching a basketball game where a team builds a massive lead, only to see it slip away, forcing overtime. That’s exactly what happened to Purdue in their nail-biting matchup against Nebraska—a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second. But here’s where it gets controversial: Did Purdue’s dominance in the first half mask deeper issues that nearly cost them the game? Let’s dive in.
In Lincoln, Nebraska, Purdue stormed out of the gates, delivering a masterclass in offense and defense for the first 30 minutes. By the first media timeout, they had already sunk four three-pointers, stifling Nebraska’s offense and racing to a commanding 14-1 lead. The Boilermakers’ control of the glass was equally impressive, with 10 second-chance points in the first half alone. Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff were unstoppable on the boards, out-rebounding Nebraska by a staggering 17 points. Purdue’s coach, Matt Painter, later remarked, ‘We had 20 more possessions than them, and we needed every single one.’
And this is the part most people miss: Despite their early dominance, Purdue’s 22-point lead began to crumble in the second half. Nebraska mounted an 18-2 run, cutting the deficit to just five points with seven minutes left. Clutch three-pointers from CJ Cox and Jack Benter seemed to steady the ship, but foul-line struggles nearly derailed Purdue’s efforts. Braden Smith missed a critical one-and-one, Fletcher Loyer split a pair, and Cox missed two free throws, leaving Purdue with a lackluster 11-of-20 performance from the charity stripe.
Overtime arrived, and with it, a heart-stopping finish. Oscar Cluff’s basket with 5.2 seconds remaining put Purdue back in the lead, and a Nebraska turnover sealed the deal. Cluff later shared his mindset: ‘Once I saw Fletch get stuck, I knew his first thought was to find me. I was ready to catch and go.’
Statistically, Purdue’s performance was a mixed bag. Fletcher Loyer led the team with 18 points, while Braden Smith contributed 13 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Kaufman-Renn’s 19 rebounds and Cluff’s 14 were game-changing. However, Purdue’s record-breaking 46 three-point attempts—shattering the previous school record of 36—yielded only 13 makes (28.3%). Loyer’s 17 three-point attempts, second only to Carsen Edwards’ 19 in 2019, resulted in just four makes. Painter acknowledged, ‘We had a lot of good looks that didn’t fall, especially in the second half, but our guys kept fighting.’
Here’s the controversial question: Was Purdue’s reliance on three-pointers a smart strategy, or did it expose their offensive limitations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Looking ahead, Purdue faces Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday. Last month, a strong second-half performance from Braden Smith lifted the Boilermakers to a 69-61 win over the Hawkeyes in West Lafayette. As Oscar Cluff put it, ‘It’s just the beginning. We have huge games ahead and need to keep the momentum going all the way to April.’
For more insights, check out the full stats here, or dive into our analysis, wrap video, stat blast, and final thoughts here. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Daily On3 Newsletter for updates straight to your inbox!
