Live Game Thread & Updates For Purdue's Elite Eight Game vs. Arizona
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A trip to the Final Four is at stake on Saturday night in San Jose, as No. 2 Purdue battles No. 1 Arizona in the Elite Eight. These are two of college basketball's best teams competing for a spot in the sport's premier event.
Purdue earned a spot in the Elite Eight by getting first- and second-round wins over No. 15 Queens and No. 7 Miami in St. Louis. On Thursday, the Boilermakers defeated No. 11 Texas to advance.
Arizona defeated No. 16 Long Island and No. 9 Utah State in the first two rounds, then shredded Arkansas in the Sweet 16. The Wildcats are hoping to make their first trip to the Final Four in more than two decades.
Follow along with Purdue Boilermakers On SI for live coverage of Saturday night's Elite Eight game between Purdue and Arizona. Refresh this page frequently for the latest news, updates and analysis.
#2 Purdue vs. #1 Arizona live game blog
2nd half
7:49 — A good drive by Braden Smith leads to an Oscar Cluff pump fake and drawing a foul as we hit the under-eight media timeout. Arizona leads this one 59-51. The Boilermakers are going to have to find ways to score. Purdue is just 5-of-16 from the floor and 0-of-4 from three-point range.
9:27 — Jaden Bradley with a beautiful move to get a layup through Purdue's defense. The Boilermakers just can't find any offense right now. Arizona's lead is now 57-49.
11:46 — Trey Kaufman-Renn appeared to get a huge and-one just before the media timeout, but the Arizona foul on Tobe Awaka was whistled on the floor and the official waved off the basket. At the second media timeout, the Wildcats lead the Boilermakers 51-45.
12:07 — Arizona takes a six-point lead on an Anthony Dell'Orso three-pointer. The pro-Arizona crowd is really getting into it at the SAP Center, turning this into a road environment for Purdue. How will the Boilermakers respond?
12:49 — Purdue has gotten into a lull offensively and Arizona has taken advantage. The Wildcats have taken a 46-43 lead.
15:21 — Arizona has tied this game at 42-42 at the first media timeout. Braden Smith missed a three-pointer but Oscar Cluff grabbed an offensive board and was fouled on a put-back attempt. The Wildcats are getting whatever they want offensively right now.
16:31 — Brayden Burries knocks down a three and brings the Arizona crowd into the game at the SAP Center. It's 42-40 in favor of Purdue. The Wildcats have gotten off to a good start in the second half.
18:39 — Braden Smith landed awkwardly on his ankle and was on the ground holding it for a minute. He got up fairly quickly and appears to be OK. He'll stay in the game.
19:21 — A tough situation for Purdue right out of the gate as Trey Kaufman-Renn picks up his third foul. Daniel Jacobsen is back in for the Boilers.
1st half
HALF — You have to think this situation favors Purdue. The Boilermakers are the more experienced team. How will a young Arizona squad handle the adversity of trailing by seven points in such a big moment. It's not to say the Wildcats can't come back, but they don't have the same level of experience.
HALF — Purdue 38, Arizona 31. The Wildcats once led this game 19-13, but then Purdue caught fire. Braden Smith had 11 points, Gicarri Harris had six and Oscar Cluff and C.J. Cox both had five. The Boilers were 7-of-14 from three-point range and 15-of-35 from the floor.
Arizona is 11-of-27 from the floor and has made just one three-pointer. Koa Peat has 10 points for Arizona and Ivan Kharchenkov has six points and six rebounds.
2:21 — A block by Daniel Jacobsen and a three-pointer from C.J. Cox puts Purdue's lead at six. Then, an offensive foul is called on Arizona's Tobe Awaka, giving the ball back to the Boilermakers. The Wildcats take a timeout.
3:12 — Braden Smith knocks down his third three of the game. He has 11 points and Purdue has a 30-27 lead. Daniel Jacobsen continues to play extremely well alongside Oscar Cluff with Trey Kaufman-Renn battling foul trouble.
3:45 — Final media timeout of the first half and we're tied at 27-27. Koa Peat leads Arizona with eight points and Ivan Kharchenkov has six points and five rebounds. Braden SMith has eight points for Piurdue, and Oscar Cluff has five points and four boards.
4:27 — Arizona has regained the lead at 27-25. These two teams continue to trade punches like heavyweight fighters. A lot of credit to Oscar Cluff, who continues to battle for every rebound.
7:48 — Gicarri Harris has completely swung this game in another direction. An Oscar Cluff steal leads to a triple for the sophomore guard and Purdue has regained the lead at 23-21. We're at the under-8 media timeout. Cluff may have gotten away with a walk, but the Boilers aren't complaining. The bench is playing really well in the first half.
8:55 — Gicarri Harris has provided a huge spark off the bench. He already has two steals, has walled up on defense and knocked down a three-pointer. The Boilers need more guys off the bench to provide quality minutes if Purdue wants to take down Arizona. It's 21-18 in favor of the Wildcats.
11:56 — Second media timeout and Arizona leads Purdue 19-13. The Boilers are going to need some quality minutes from 7-foot-4 center Daniel Jacobsen with Trey Kaufman-Renn in foul trouble. Purdue is just 5-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-6 from three. Arizona is 8-of-13. Three starters already have four points.
12:13 — Nightmare scenario for Purdue as Trey Kaufman-Renn gets his second foul of the game. Arizona is so big that the Boilermakers need Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff on the floor to compete on the glass. The score is 19-13 in favor of Arizona.
12:54 — Shots aren't falling for Purdue right now, but the Boilermakers are doing a good job of competing on the glass, getting second and third chances on the ball.
14:12 — The lead is only five points for Arizona, but it feels like the Wildcats are starting to get comfortable on the offensive end of the floor.
15:44 — Braden Smith gives Purdue its first lead of the game at 10-9 on a three-pointer. He's hit two early and has six points for the Boilermakers. We've reached the first media timeout.
18:45 — Arizona strikes first with a three-pointer from Brayden Burries. Purdue has missed its first few early shots, but has gotten some good looks.
Starting lineups
- Purdue — #0 C.J. Cox (G), #2 Fletcher Loyer (G), #3 Braden Smith (G), #4 Trey Kaufman-Renn (F), #45 Oscar Cluff (C).
- Arizona — #0 Jaden Bradley (G), #5 Brayden Burries (G), #8 Ivan Kharchenkov (F), #10 Koa Peat (F), Motiejus Krivas (C).
Tipoff between Purdue and Arizona is set for 8:49 p.m. ET. The game will air on TBS/truTV.
What's at stake
A trip to the Final Four hangs in the balance on Saturday night. For Purdue, it would be the program's second trip in the last three seasons, reaching the National Championship Game in 2024.
Arizona, on the other hand, has had a long absence from college basketball's penultimate event. The Wildcats last reached the Final Four in 2001, playing in the National Championship Game.
Both teams were pegged as Final Four favorites before the season started. Only one will be playing next weekend in Indianapolis with their nationla championship hopes still alive.
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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