Live Game Thread & Updates for Purdue vs. Queens in 1st Round of NCAA Tournament

ST. LOUIS — No. 2 seed Purdue begins the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, taking on No. 15 seed Queens in the first round. The Boilermakers are hoping to make a push towards another Final Four appearance, but the first step is to get a victory to start the weekend.

Queens is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance and hopes to make a statement. The Royals got to this point by winning the ASUN Tournament, defeating Central Arkansas in the Championship Game.

Follow along with Purdue Boilermakers on SI, bringing you live coverage of the first-round game between Purdue and Queens. You can refresh this page frequently for the latest updates and analysis from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) shoots a free throw. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

#2 Purdue vs. #15 Queens live game blog

2nd half

FINAL — Purdue 104, Queens 71. An utterly dominant performance from Purdue in the final 23 minutes. Braden Smith was magnificent, going off for 26 points and eight assists. Trey Kaufman-Renn had 25 points and nine rebounds, Oscar Cluff had nine points and 11 rebounds, and Fletcher Loyer added 14 points. C.J. Cox accounted for 11 points, many coming during Purdue's important run between the end of the first and start of the second halves.

3:28 — We've reached the final media timeout and Purdue leads 98-60. Reserve Liam Murphy got a loud ovation when he entered today's game.

5:33 — Purdue is on the cusp of scoring 100 points tonight. Back-to-back threes from Jack Benter and Braden Smith makes the score 92-58. Boiler fans now get a glimpse of a future lineup, with Gicarri Harris, Omer Mayer, Jack Benter, Daniel Jacobsen and CJ Cox on the floor.

7:18 — Media timeout and Purdue leads 82-53. Braden Smith has 23 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn has scored 21, Fletcher Loyer has 14 and C.J. Cox has scored 11. A total team effort tonight.

8:38 — This one has gotten away from Queens. Trey Kaufman-Renn just scored and was fouled, missed te free throw and Gicarri Harris pulled down the board. Kaufman-Renn then scored again on a sky-hook. Purdue's lead is now 80-49,

12:02 — Purdue has gotten a little sloppy with some of its possessions recently, resulting in a few turnovers. Braden Smith was a bit out of control on a layup attempt that resulted in a scrum for a loose ball. Trey Kaufman-Renn dove on the floor to get the ball and called a timeout to save a possession for the Boilermakers. It's 67-45 in favor of Purdue.

15:55 — First media timeout of the second half and Purdue leads 58-38. A really good four minutes for Purdue out of halftime, outscoring queens 13-5.

17:16 — Fletcher Loyer may have just delivered a kill shot for Purdue. Still a lot of time left in this game, but the Boilermakers are getting whatever they want offensively right now. Queens is struggling to get anything to go in. Boilers lead 56-36.

17:40 — This game isn't over, but it feels like Purdue is flexing its muscle right now. The Boilers have looked good coming out of the locker room, going on an 8-3 run out of the break.

1st half

HALF — Purdue 45, Queens 33. Chris Ashby hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the Royals. Before that, Purdue had gone on a 10-0 run to push the lead out to 15 points. CJ Cox was responsible for eight points during that 10-0 run, hitting a pair of three-pointers and two free throws.

Braden Smith has 15 points and five assists, Trey Kaufman-Renn has 10 points, and Oscar Cluff has seven points and five rebounds. For Queens, Ashby and Nasir Mann each scored six, Carson Schwieger and Maban Jabriel each had five.

1:13 — It's now a 7-0 Purdue run in the last 1:16. This is exactly what Purdue needed to close out the half. Queens take a timeout to try and halt any momentum.

1:52 — A really big sequence for Purdue to extend its lead. C.J. Cox buried an open three, then Daniel Jacobsen blocked a Jordan Watson layup attempt. Cox then was fouled on a three-point attempt and knocked down two. A five-point lead is now a 10-point advantage.

3:17 — Final media timeout of the half and Purdue leads Queens 35-28. Braden Smith is really taking charge of the offense right now. He has 13 points and is 5-of-7 from the floor. The Boilermakers would love to put together a run in the final three minutes to carry some momentum into the second half.

5:43 — There have been opportunities for Purdue to deliver some knockout punches, but they can't quite take advantage. The Boilermakers are just 2-of-6 from behind the arc to start today.

7:41 — Purdue's defense has continued to get better as this game progresses. This is a Queens team that averages just under 85 points per game. Through the first 12 minutes, the Boilermakers have held them to 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting. The Royals also have four turnovers.

9:22 — Braden Smith became college basketball's all-time assist leader during that last stretch on a pass to Trey Kaufman-Renn. The Boilermakers have been able to increase their lead to 24-17, shooting 11-of-19 from the floor. Smith has nine points and Kaufman-Renn has eigth to lead Purdue.

Queens is currently led by Carson Schwieger, who has five.

13:12 — Purdue's defense has been better out of the first media timeout, getting three straight stops. But the Boilers haven't been able to capitalize on it, increasing their lead by just two points. A couple quality looks off the mark.

15:04 — First media timeout and Purdue leads Queens 13-10. A lot of offense to start this evening's game. Purdue is 6-of-9 from the floor and Queens is 4-of-7. Braden Smith has come out aggressive, taking four shots in the first five minutes and making two. He also tied Bobby Hurley's assist record in the first five-minute stretch.

17:46 — Purdue's offense has come out hhot to start. The Boilermakers have made their first five shots from the floor and own an 11-4 lead on Queens. A great start for Purdue.

Pregame

During shootaround and team warmups, the Boilermakers looked loose and relaxed. This team should be confident after winning the Big Ten Tournament last weekend in Chicago.

It should come as no surprise that this is a pro-Purdue crowd here in St. Louis. Campus is a sort 4-hour drive to the Enterprise Center. A lot of black-and-gold in the arena tonight.

Starting lineups

Queens — #1 Nasir Mann (G), #6 Avantae Parker (F), #11 Chris Ashby (G), #22 Carson Schwieger (F), #24 Yoav Berman (G).
Purdue — #0 C.J. Cox (G), #2 Fletcher Loyer (G), #3 Braden Smith (G), #4 Trey Kaufman-Renn (F), #45 Oscar Cluff (C).

Tipoff between #2 Purdue and #15 Queens is set for 7:35 p.m. ET and will air on truTV. It is a first-round NCAA Tournament game.

What's at stake?

Purdue's senior trio of Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn are hoping to make one last deep run in the NCAA Tournament. This is a group that has experienced everything from losing in the first round to a No. 16 seed to playing in the National Championship Game.

The Boilermakers are fresh off a Big Ten Tournament championship, winning four games in four days. That included victories over No. 2 seed Nebraska and No. 1 seed Michigan. Purdue should be carrying plenty of momentum into March Madness.

Queens has never experienced the NCAA Tournament, making the field in its first season of eligibility. It would love to be this year's biggest Cinderella story and upset one of the top programs in the country.

Friday night's winner will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, playing the winner of No. 7 seed Miami (Florida) and No. 10 seed Missouri.

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