Purdue survives Miami
Purdue outlasted Miami to advance to the Sweet 16 in March Madness — a tight second‑round win that secured their place in the next bracket on March 23 ( ).
Purdue won 79–69 over Miami at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 22, 2026. (espn.com) Fletcher Loyer led Purdue with 24 points, Trey Kaufman‑Renn finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, and Braden Smith recorded 12 points and eight assists (with a career‑high‑matching eight turnovers). (espn.com) Miami held a 40–38 lead at halftime, but Purdue outscored the Hurricanes 41–29 in the second half and used an 11–3 run late in the period to create separation; Smith then made four free throws in the final minute to help seal the win. (espn.com) Purdue reserve C.J. Cox left the game limping with an apparent knee issue after 18 minutes and 11 points, a play captured on the game broadcast and noted in the box score. (espn.com) The victory marked coach Matt Painter’s 500th win at Purdue, and the Boilermakers will face No. 11 seed Texas in the West Regional semifinals (Sweet 16) on Thursday, March 26, at the SAP Center in San Jose. (espn.com) This trip to the Sweet 16 is Purdue’s third straight appearance and its seventh in the last nine NCAA tournaments. (espn.com)
