Trey Kaufman-Renn, Cam Heide lift Purdue basketball to Big Ten Tourney win over USC
INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue basketball's inconsistencies were on display in Thursday's second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Boilermakers entered the postseason losing five of their past seven games, but saved something for late to reach Friday's quarterfinals.
Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith had 12 points and nine assists while Fletcher Loyer added 14 points, but it was the tandem of Trey Kaufman-Renn and Cam Heide who lifted the No. 6-seed Boilermakers to a 76-71 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
After Kaufman-Renn's two free throws with 28.3 seconds left, Myles Colvin forced USC's Desmond Claude into a missed jumper.
Heide snagged the rebound as Purdue punched its ticket to the next round.
Purdue basketball turning point
The Boilermakers have been both a team that has taken great care of the basketball and a team that can beat itself by a lack of doing so.
It was turnover-prone Purdue that put the Boilers playing from behind.
USC's 11-0 run took the Trojans from down three to up eight.
The Boilermakers immediately responded, getting a 10-0 run after falling behind by double digits to tie the game at 28. Cam Heide's two 3s sparked the run.
That was a moment Purdue could've rolled over, already comfortably in the NCAA Tournament. Instead, the Boilermakers showed some fight in a survive-and-advance format.
3 stars
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue: The Boilermakers leaned on their leading scorer and first-team all-conference center when the offense was in a funk. Kaufman-Renn finished with a game-high 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting and added seven rebounds.
Cam Heide, Purdue: The Boilermakers had to run with the redshirt sophomore for the second straight game. The Boilermakers were better when Heide was on the floor. It wasn't just the 3s that rallied Purdue from a double-digit deficit in the first half. His rebounding was equally, if not more important to Purdue's victory. Heide finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Desmond Claude, USC: Down the stretch, Claude demanded the ball and put the Trojans on his back. He finished with 18 points. Without him, the Trojans would've faltered much sooner.
What's next for Purdue basketball?
The Boilermakers advance to a 9 p.m. Friday quarterfinal against Michigan.
Purdue and Michigan split a pair of regular season games, with each team winning on its home court.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball hangs on to beat USC at Big Ten Tournament
-
Trey Kaufman-Renn scores 30 and No. 20 Purdue beats USC 76-71 in Big Ten Tournament
Trey Kaufman-Renn matched a career high with 30 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 28 seconds left, and No. 20 Purdue scored the final five points to beat Southern California 76-71 on ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Game Wrap | Purdue 76 , USC 71 | Purdue wins late, Heide flies in
Purdue had to crawl, bite, and scratch its way back in the second half after falling behind USC early in the second half. With just under four minutes left in the game, Braden Smith finally pushed ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Purdue star Trey Kaufman-Renn alleges racist comments made by Illinois fans toward 13-year-old brother
Purdue is reportedly planning to file a report to the Big Ten over the incidentCBS Sports - Mar. 8 -
Purdue/USC winner to play Illinois
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Purdue and USC will wrap up the Big Ten Tournament day two in the fourth and final game on Thursday night.The teams now know who they'll be playing against on ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
USC's upset bid falls frustratingly short in season-ending loss to Purdue
After leading for a good portion of the game, USC men's basketball can't hold on in the final minute, losing 76-71 to Purdue in the Big Ten tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
2025 BIg Ten Tournament: Purdue 76, USC 71: Postgame Video
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) steals the ball from USC Trojans guard Wesley Yates III (6) Thursday, March 13, 2025, during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament game at Gainbridge ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Michigan basketball pounces on Purdue for first Big Ten semifinal appearance since 2021
Michigan basketball score: The Wolverines surged in the second half to beat Purdue and return to the Big Ten semifinals first time since 2021.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
No. 22 Michigan snaps skid with 86-68 win over No. 20 Purdue, advances to Big Ten semis
Danny Wolf had 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and No. 22 Michigan snapped a three-game losing streak with a 86-68 win over No. 20 Purdue in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinalABC News - 23h -
Spartans advance in Big Ten Tournament with double digit victory over Oregon
Michigan State basketball has opened their Big Ten Tournament with a victory over Oregon in the quarterfinal.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Six straight! Late Jalen Green takeover rallies Rockets (43-25) past Bulls, extends streak
Trailing with six minutes left, Jalen Green took over with 11 efficient points late as Houston rallied past Chicago to win its sixth straight game.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Dick Vitale tears up on ACC Championship broadcast while talking about recent cancer battle
Dick Vitale became emotional Saturday night while talking about his most recent cancer battle while announcing top-ranked Duke's 73-62 victory over No. 13 Louisville in the Atlantic Coast ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Pogba watches LAFC fall to MLS defeat
Former France international midfielder Paul Pogba was in the stands as Los Angeles FC fell to a second straight defeat in Major League Soccer with a 1-0 loss on Saturday to Austin FC. Pogba, who is ...Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Top performers from Day 1 of OT7 competition
Top performers from Day 1 of actionYahoo Sports - 21m -
Vassell scores 22 points and Spurs hold off Pelicans, who were without Williamson
Devin Vassell scored 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-115 on Saturday night. Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes each had 19 points for San Antonio ...Yahoo Sports - 21m
More in Sports
-
Curry has 28 points, Kerr becomes Warriors' regular-season victory leader in 97-94 win over Knicks
Stephen Curry had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists two days after becoming the first player in NBA history with 4,000 3-pointers and a day after turning 37, leading the Golden State ...ABC News - 9m -
Proctor, Knueppel carry No. 1 Duke past No. 13 Louisville 73-62 for 2nd ACC title in 3 years
Tyrese Proctor scored 19 points on six 3-pointers, Kon Knueppel added 18 points and No. 1 Duke defeated 13th-ranked Louisville 73-62 on Saturday night to clinch its second Atlantic Coast Conference ...ABC News - 9m -
Lendeborg's double-double helps UAB advance to AAC title game with 66-56 win over North Texas
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead No. 3 seed UAB to a 66-56 victory over No. 2 seed North Texas in an American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinalABC News - 9m -
Six straight! Late Jalen Green takeover rallies Rockets (43-25) past Bulls, extends streak
Trailing with six minutes left, Jalen Green took over with 11 efficient points late as Houston rallied past Chicago to win its sixth straight game.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Women's Bracketology: UCSD seals first bid, Harvard's win keeps Ivy intrigue alive
After Harvard sealed its NCAA tournament spot, the number of Ivy teams in the field remains unclear.ESPN - 16m