LIVE BLOG: Follow Purdue's Big Ten Tournament Title Game vs. Penn State in Real Time
CHICAGO — Top-seeded Purdue looks to close this year's Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday with its first title since 2009 when it tips off against a surging Penn State team that's won its last five contests entering the matchup.
In two games against the Nittany Lions during the regular season, the Boilermakers earned a pair of victories by an average margin of 16.5 points. They won 76-63 at The Palestra in Philadelphia on Jan. 8 and 80-60 in Mackey Arena on Feb. 1.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated in real time with all the news and views as they happen, straight from press row. We'll add highlights and opinions as well. The most recent items are on the top, so just keep refreshing.
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Purdue basketball is looking to solidify itself as a potential No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Follow along down below for updates:
***All Times Central***
4:39 p.m., FINAL — Purdue plays the inbounds play perfectly, and Camren Wynter travels before he can get a shot off. The Boilermakers hang on for a 67-65 win in the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament championship game.
4:35 p.m. — Fletcher Loyer goes 1-for-2 from the line, and Penn State calls a timeout in the offensive half of the court with 3.3 seconds left. Purdue leads 67-65.
4:33 p.m. — Myles Dread drills a 3-pointer for Penn State, and Camren Wynter gets an easy layup underneath the basket. It's not a one-point game with 6.4 seconds left.
4:31 p.m. — Penn State calls timeout with 25.3 seconds left, 17 seconds on the shot clock. Purdue leads 66-60 and has been outscored 17-6 in the last three-plus minutes.
4:29 p.m. — Zach Edey puts in Purdue's first field goal since the 6:18 mark. He wanted that one all for himself, taking one dribble before weaving through a crowd for a tough layup at the rim. The Boilermakers lead 66-60.
4:24 p.m. — Penn State is putting together a strong run to end the game. Seth Lundy misses the front end of a one-and-one, but the Nittany Lions have outscored the Boilermakers 13-2 in the last two-plus minutes.
4:18 p.m., UNDER 4 — Penn State is on an 8-0 run, and Purdue hasn't scored in more than two minutes. The Boilermakers lead 60-51 with 3:59 to play.
4:07 p.m. — Penn State calls for a timeout as Purdue leads by 17. The Boilermakers have outscored the Nittany Lions 17-7 over the last 10 minutes. Zach Edey leads the way with 26 points, and Mason Gillis is now in double figures with 10.
4:03 p.m., UNDER 8 — Purdue ties its largest lead of the game with a 55-41 advantage over Penn State. There's 7:55 left in the game, and Zach Edey leads all scorers with 24 points. Camren Wynter and Seth Lundy have combined for all 14 points for the Nittany Lions since halftime.
4:01 p.m. — Purdue is in the bonus with 8:40 left to play, and Brandon Newman knocks down a pair of free throws. The Boilermakers are 8-of-10 from the line, including 7-of-8 so far in the second half.
3:57 p.m. — Trey Kaufman-Renn hits a shot and is fouled. After making the ensuing free throw, Purdue's run is now 12-2. Penn State hasn't scored since the 15:26 mark.
3:52 p.m., UNDER 12 — Purdue leads Penn State 49-38 with 11:31 left in the game. The Boilermakers are on a 9-2 run after their lead was cut to five points. Zach Edey has scored nine of the team's 14 points in the second half.
3:49 p.m. — Penn State on a scoring drought of three-plus minutes. Purdue has done well to capitalize in these positions today. A pair of Zach Edey free throws give the Boilermakers an 11-point lead with 12:11 left to go.
3:42 p.m., UNDER 16 — Purdue has a 43-38 lead over Penn State with 14:45 left to play. The Nittany Lions are 4-of-4 from the free-throw line so far in the second half.
3:40 p.m. — Penn State is on a 7-0 run as Camren Wynter drills an open 3-pointer. Zach Edey gets an and-one to half the scoring streak.
3:34 p.m. — Mason Gillis starts the second half with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He has seven points so far today.
3:32 p.m. — David Jenkins Jr. starts the second half for Purdue in place of Fletcher Loyer. He had 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first half, including 3-of-5 from the 3-point line.
3:15 p.m., HALFTIME — David Jenkins Jr.'s 3-pointer is no good, but Purdue goes into the locker room with a 35-27 lead over Penn State. Zach Edey leads the way with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jenkins had 11 in the first half.
3:13 p.m. — Purdue calls a timeout with 9.5 seconds left in the first half. Have to believe that Zach Edey is going to get the ball here as fast as possible, whether he can get a good look or kick out for an open 3-pointer. The Boilermakers are 4-of-14 from deep so far.
3:11 p.m. — Zach Edey is off to another good start against Penn State. He's 6-of-9 from the floor and leads all scorers with 13 points. On the next possession, David Jenkins Jr. puts in his third 3-pointer of the first half. He has 11 for the Boilermakers.
3:03 p.m., UNDER 4 — We've reached the final media timeout of the first half, and Purdue leads 27-21 with 3:57 left to go before halftime. Penn State is putting together a run late.
2:57 p.m., UNDER 8 — Purdue has a 25-17 advantage over Penn State with 5:27 left to go in the half. The Boilermakers have made five of their last seven without Zach Edey on the floor.
2:56 p.m. — Fletcher Loyer has struggled this tournament, but he heaves up a shot from beyond the arc right before the shot clock expires. Purdue and Penn State are both 3-of-9 from the 3-point line.
2:55 p.m. — Mason Gillis takes his defender into the lane and gets a nice floater to hit the bottom of the net. Purdue is 10-of-21 to start the game and is keeping its advantage with Zach Edey on the bench.
2:53 p.m. — Penn State gets right back into it with three consecutive 3-pointers. Purdue's lead is now just two with under eight minutes before halftime.
2:48 p.m., UNDER 12 — Purdue has a 13-6 lead over Penn State thanks to some shooting woes by the Nittany Lions. They have made one of their last 10 shots and haven't scored in almost three minutes. Zach Edey has eight points and five rebounds.
2:46 p.m. — Purdue is on a 13-2 run over the last six minutes, and Zach Edey is up to eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. Penn State has made just one of its last nine shots.
2:44 p.m. — David Jenkins Jr. continues to be a big-time contributor off the bench. He drills a 3-pointer and Purdue is on a 9-0 run.
2:42 p.m. — David Jenkins Jr., Ethan Morton and Caleb Furst all check into the game after the media timeout. Zach Edey knocks down his second shot of the game once play resumes, and Purdue takes a 6-4 lead.
2:39 p.m., UNDER 16 — A slow start here for both teams, and the game is tied 4-4 with 15:17 left in the first half. They are a combined 4-of-15 from the field. The Nittany Lions have missed their last five shots and haven't scored in more than three minutes.
2:37 p.m. — Zach Edey has drawn two fouls down low in the first four minutes. Purdue and Penn State are knotted up 4-4 before the first media timeout.
2:35 p.m. — Zach Edey gets his first bucket of the afternoon. Next comes finding the team's first lead.
2:34 p.m. — Jalen Pickett hits a midrange jumper to put the Nittany Lions in the lead. On their next possession, Camren Wynter gets a pull-up from the elbow. The Boilermakers are looking to get Zach Edey going early, as per usual.
Tipoff — Purdue wins the opening tip, and Zach Edey can't get his first shot attempt to fall. Penn State takes control with a chance to score first.
Purdue starters:
- Freshman guard Braden Smith
- Freshman guard Fletcher Loyer
- Junior guard Brandon Newman
- Junior forward Mason Gillis
- Junior center Zach Edey
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