Purdue Claims Overtime Victory Over Nebraska, Sets New 3-Point Attempt Record
Purdue secured a dramatic 80-77 overtime victory against Nebraska on Tuesday night in Lincoln.
Oscar Cluff scored the winning basket with 5.2 seconds remaining in overtime.
Purdue established an early lead, making four three-pointers before the first media timeout of the first half to quickly build a 14-1 advantage. The team also demonstrated strong performance in rebounding, securing 10 second-chance points in the first half and notably out-rebounding Nebraska by 17. Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff were particularly prominent for their rebounding efforts during this dominant start.
Nebraska mounted a significant comeback in the second half with an 18-2 run, successfully reducing Purdue's 22-point lead to just five with seven minutes left in regulation. Purdue then extended its lead again with crucial three-point shots from CJ Cox and Jack Benter. However, the Boilermakers experienced difficulties at the free-throw line late in regulation, converting only 11 of 20 attempts.
In overtime, Cluff's pivotal basket gave Purdue the lead, and a subsequent Nebraska turnover ultimately secured the victory for the Boilermakers.
Several Purdue players delivered standout performances. Fletcher Loyer led the team with 18 points. Braden Smith contributed a near triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. On the boards, Trey Kaufman-Renn recorded an impressive 19 rebounds, and Oscar Cluff added 14 rebounds to his game-winning score.
The game also saw Purdue set a new school record. The team attempted 46 three-pointers, surpassing the previous record of 36. Fletcher Loyer's 17 three-point attempts were the second-highest in school history for an individual player. Overall, Purdue made 13 of its 46 three-point attempts, resulting in a 28.3% success rate from beyond the arc.
Purdue's next game is scheduled for Saturday evening against Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.