INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — 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 Thursday night in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The sixth-seeded Boilermakers (22-10) trailed by 10 points in the first half, but they tied it by halftime and emerged from a back-and-forth second half thanks largely to Kaufman-Renn, who finished 12 of 20 from the field and 6 of 11 from the free-throw line.
Purdue advanced to face No. 22 and second-seeded Michigan in Friday’s quarterfinals. The teams split this season, with each winning at home.
With USC (16-17) trailing by three in the closing seconds, Desmond Claude turned the ball over before the Trojans could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith made two free throws to finish the scoring with 3.6 seconds remaining. Smith had 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting and nine assists.
Claude led the Trojans with 18 points. Wesley Yates added 13.
Takeaways
USC: The Trojans have the athletic skill and length to match up with most teams and pushed Purdue despite having played a double-overtime game the night before. On talent alone, this team should get an NIT bid.
Purdue: Despite struggling to defend taller, quicker players in the backcourt, the Boilermakers did just enough in the final moments. They had lost five of their previous seven.
Key moment
Kaufman-Renn made a layup with 5:14 left to tie the game at 67-all, and Purdue never trailed gain.
Key stat
Purdue made 15 of 23 free throws. USC was 10 of 14.
Up next
The Trojans await a possible NIT bid while the Boilermakers’ tournament run continues.
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Phillip B. Wilson, The Associated Press
