Live Game Thread & Updates For Purdue vs. Nebraska in Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal

CHICAGO — The quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament has arrived and the evening session tips off with an intriguing matchup between No. 7 seed Purdue and No. 2 seed Nebraska. The regular-season matchup between the two went down to the wire, and we could see another thriller on Friday night.

Purdue won the first meeting 80-77 in Lincoln. Can the Boilermakers go 2-0 against the Huskers this season? Or will Nebraska get revenge and advance to the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Follow along with Purdue Boilermakers on SI for the latest updates and analysis from the United Center in Chicago. You can refresh this page frequently for up-to-date coverage of the game.

#7 Purdue vs. #2 Nebraska live game blog

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Jamarques Lawrence (10) shoots a free throw. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

2nd half

FINAL — Purdue 74, Nebraska 58. The Boilermakers are headed to the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament. Fletcher Loyer led the way with 19 points, four rebounds and two steals. C.J. Cox and Oscar Cluff each had 12 points, and Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 10 points.

Purdue held Nebraska to just 39.3% shooting for the game, won the rebound battle 37-29 and scored 17 points off turnovers to win the game.

3:50 — A foul on C.J. Cox takes us into our final media timeout with Purdue leading Nebraska 70-52. The Huskers tried to make a run, but Purdue just had a response every time. An impressive effort from the Boilermakers tonight.

5:37 — A complete effort play after a Fletcher Loyer miss results in an offensive rebound and an open three-pointer from C.J. Cox. That pushed the Purdue lead back to 13 and Fred Hoiberg uses a timeout. Cox had confidence in that shot despite missing several recently. That could be a game-deciding play if the defense can get some stops.

7:38 — Third media timeout of the half and Purdue leads 58-48. After Nebraska cut the lead to single digits, Oscar Cluff came up with a huge put-back dunk off a Braden Smith miss to get it back out to 10 points. He has 10 points and five rebounds for the Boilers tonight.

8:24 — Nebraska gets a third opportunity on the same possession and a Sam Hoiberg three brings the Huskers within eight. Can Purdue continue to fend off a surging Nebraska squad?

8:56 — Purdue just missed on several opportunities to extend its lead from 56-45 but failed to take advantage. Nebraska has been fighting like hell to try to get this lead within 10 points, but the Boilers have been able to keep them at arm's length.

11:38 — Braden Smith was animated in the huddle during that last timeout after Nebraska cut into Purdue's lead. Whatever he said must have worked, as Gicarri Harris knocked down a three-pointer to put the Boilers back ahead by 13 points. Purdue has done a nice job answering any Nebraska run today.

12:28 — Back-to-back triples from Pryce Sandfort and Rienk Mast has allowed Nebraska to cut Purdue's lead down from 16 points to 10 points. It's 51-41 Boilers, but Matt Painter wants a timeout to try and stop the Huskers' momentum. The Huskers have made their last three field goal attempts.

Remember, Purdue had a 22-point lead against Nebraska in Lincoln before the Huskers came storming back to force overtime. The Boilers have been in control, but this game is far from over.

15:35 — First media timeout and Purdue leads Nebraska 48-33. Trey Kaufman-Renn has gotten some buckets here to start the second half to help the Boilermakers increase their lead. I forgot to mention this earlier, but Fletcher Loyer is playing some of his best basketball at exactly the right time. He's knocking down shots, diving for loose balls and getting things done defensively. Loyer has been a huge key to Purdue's success so far in the tournament.

17:19 — Purdue hasn't slowed up at all to start the second half. The Boilers have scored five points and have increased the lead to 46-30. Braden Smith hit a big triple and Trey Kaufman-Renn had a nice rebound off a C.J. Coc miss for two second-chance points.

1st half

HALF — Purdue 41, Nebraska 28. Fletcher Loyer had a big first half for the Boilermakers, scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting. C.J. Cox ended the half with nine and Oscar Cluff has eight points. Braden Smith is already up to seven assists.

Nebraska had trouble with turnovers in that half and had uncharacteristic defensive lapses. The Huskers were 10-of-26 from the floor with eight turnovers.

1:15 — The Boilermakers just surrendered two offensive rebounds to Nebraska but the Huskers can't convert. A loose ball winds up in the hands of Fletcher Loyer, who dove on the floor to get Purdue the basketball. Big play from the senior after a poor rebounding effort on that possession.

2:42 — Purdue couldn't convert on its last offensive possession and the ball went out of bounds after Pryce Sandfort and Trey Kaufman-Renn fought for the rebound. It was initially ruled Nebraska ball, but officials reviewed it and overturned the call. The Boilers win the challenge.

3:42 — Purdue is on a 2:10 scoring drought as the offenses have dried up a bit recently. At the final media timeout, the Boilermakers lead the Huskers 33-24. After a hot start, they're now 4-of-12 from three-point range. The biggest thing? Nebraska is leading the rebounding battle 12-11 right now.

6:33 — Third media timeout of the first half and Purdue leads 30-22. Oscar Cluff, who has eight points and two rebounds, got an and-one opportunity before the media timeout. Nebraska has had no answer for him in the post tonight, much like the first game.

Nebraska is shooting 50% from three (6-of-12) and the rebounding is even, yet the Boilers have an eight-point lead. A good sign for Matt Painter's club.

7:35 — Omer Mayer takes a Nebraska defender off the dribble, gets to his mid-range and connects. Nebraska responds with a three-pointer from Jared Garcia. This has been a really good basketball game trough 13 minutes.

11:18 — Nebraska has started hitting some shots from deep, which has obviously been a weakness for Purdue this season. We're at the second media timeout and Purdue leads 21-16.

Purdue's offense is off to a good start, shooting 8-of-14 from the floor. This is an elite Nebraska defense, but the Boilers are making the most of their open looks early in the first half.

12:38 — Rienk Mast is starting to get a little more involved offensively, knocking down a pair of triples out of the Nebraska timeout. That's going to be the matchup that can give Purdue problems, with the Boilermaker bigs struggling to defend the perimeter.

16:02 — Just like the first meeting between Purdue and Nebraska, the Boilermakers have jumped out to a big lead. It's 13-3 here at the United Center, and the Huskers need a timeout after a Fletcher Loyer three-pointer. C.J. Cox has knocked down two triples and the Boilers are getting Oscar Cluff involved on the inside.

When Nebraska is collapsing on Purdue's post players, it's leading to open three-point opportunities for the Boilermakers.

17:50 — Purdue is out to an early 5-3 lead. The Boilermakers have gotten some good looks at the basket and have already been aggressive on the boards. Nebraska has had a few open looks from three, as well.

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).
Nebraska — #1 Sam Hoiberg (G), #10 Jamarques Lawrence (G), #9 Berke Buyuktuncel (F), #21Pryce Sandfort (F), #51 Rienk Mast (F).

Pregame

30 minutes until tipoff and fans are beginning to trickle in through the doors. Both teams have been on the floor for warm-ups.

One interesting thing to keep an eye on will be the crowd size at opening tipoff. Cleaning crews are still hard at work here in the United Center with 48 minutes until tipoff. However, doors haven't opened to ticket holders for the second session yet. This could be a "late arriving" crowd, through no fault of the fans.

Availability report

Purdue — OUT: None. QUESTIONABLE: None.
Nebraska — OUT: Henry Burt, Ugnius Jarusevicius, Connor Essegian. QUESTIONABLE: None.

Tipoff between Purdue and Nebraska is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will air on Big Ten Network.

What's at stake

Both Nebraska and Purdue enter Friday night's game in similar spots in recent bracket projections. The Huskers are firmly predicted to be a No. 3 seed, while the Boilermakers have jumped around between the No. 3 and No. 4 lines. Could the winner secure itself a spot as a No. 3 seed in March Madness?

That, alone, is enough incentive for both teams to get a win. But also at stake is a trip to the Big Ten Tournament semifinal round for the right to play the winner of No. 3 Michigan State and No. 6 UCLA. Purdue is looking to win its third Big Ten Tournament championship. Nebraska, on te other hand, would love to claim its first title in the event.

The regular-season clas between the two teams was a thrilling one. We could be in store for another great matchup between two evenly-matched squads.

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