Live Game Thread & Updates for Purdue vs. Texas in Sweet 16

It may be hard to believe, but we've already reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Sweet 16 tips off with No. 2 Purdue playing No. 11 Texas in San Jose, Calif., as both teams try to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the Final Four.

Purdue has won six straight games, dating back to its four-game run to a Big Ten Tournament title in Chicago. The Boilermakers are playing some of their best basketball at the right time.

The same can be said for Texas, which has had a difficult path to the Sweet 16. The Longhorns defeated N.C. State in a play-in game, then upset both No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga to reach San Jose.

Thursday night's matchup between Purdue and Texas should be fun. Follow along for the latest updates and analysis throughout the night with Purdue Boilermakers On SI. You can refres this page frequently for the latest happening.

Purdue Boilermakers center Oscar Cluff (45) celebrates with Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3). | Jeff Le-Imagn Images

#2 Purdue vs. #11 Texas live game blog

Stats

Trey Kaufman-Renn ended the game with 20 points and eight rebounds. Fletcher Loyer had 18, Braden Smith had 16 and C.J. Cox scored 10. Purdue wins despite shooting 4-of-20 from the three-point line.

Tramon Mark led the way for Texas with 29 points. Dailyn Swain scored 15.

2nd half

TREY KAUFMAN-RENN WINS IT!

PURDUE IS MOVING ON! pic.twitter.com/8Bsd4uxvtj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 27, 2026

FINAL — Purdue 79, Texas 77. Braden Smith missed a jumper but Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped it in with less than a second to play. Texas attempted a full-court heave but it was off the mark. The Boilers advance to the Elite Eight.

11.9 — Oscar Cluff has fouled out, fouling Dailyn Swain who made the layup and hit the free throw. We're tied at 77-77. It comes down to one final possession.

19.4 — Things are intense in San Jose. Matas Vokietaitis makes a pair of free throws to draw Texas within one point. Purdue's C.J. Cox steps to the line and makes both to push it back to three.

37.7 — Braden Smith takes it all the way to the bucket and lays it in to give Purdue a three-point lead. This is a huge defensive opportunity right here for the Boilermakers.

59.5 — A tip-in by Chendall Weaver makes the score 73-72 in favor of Purdue. Timeout on the floor. This is crunch time for both teams. Can Purdue's seniors step up in a huge moment? Need a bucket and a stop.

2:09 — Officials called a shot-clock violation on Purdue, but it looks like the ball was out of bounds off of Texas with about 0.4 left on the shot clock. If the Boilers get the ball, they'll have enough time for a catch-and-shoot.

3:20 — A bucket from Oscar Cluff puts Purdue ahead 72-70. Big possession for Purdue.

3:56 — Fasten your seatbelts, everyone. We're all tied at 70-70 in San Jose at the final media timeout. Trey Kaufman-Renn picked up a foul, so Texas will shoot a pair of free throws out of the break. Can this senior-led Purdue squad figure out a way to play their brand of basketball for the final four minutes? This is the definition of March Madness right now.

5:00 — Camden Heide fouls out. A significant development for this game. The Boilers trail Texas, but Kaufman-Renn makes it a two-point game at 70-68 with a pair of made free throws.

5:54 — Now Camden Heide has picked up his fourth foul, trying to pick Omer Mayer's pocket. Two Longhorns now have four fouls. Mayer steps to the charity stripe but misses both. Texas leads 67-66. Those were huge misses.

7:39 — At the under-8 media timeout and Texas leads Purdue 65-63. Quite simply, Purdue cannot get a stop on the defensive end. The Longhorns are 11-of-16 in the second half and 4-of-6 from three-point range. Braden Smith was fouled on his way to the basket, so he'll get two free throws out of the timeout.

10:20 — At the second media timeout, the scoreboard reads 58-58, however, Texas likely made a three-pointer that was counted as a two. The Longhorns are going to have a one-point lead after this timeout. Travon Mark has turned into Keaton Wagler today, scoring 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Purdue has had no answer for him.

12:43 — Matas Vokietaitis picks up his fourth foul. That's a significant development in this game, as he's been a problem in the post. The Boilers need to take advantage of the size differential in the post now.

13:09 — Both teams are cotninuing to battle right now. We're tied at 51-51. Without Oscar Cluff on the floor, Purdue is really struggling to get rebounds, especially on the offensive end. He checks back into the game with three fouls.

15:37 — Camden Heide knocks down a three to give Texas a 49-45 advantage. Purdue takes a timeout. There has been absolutely no flow to the first four minutes of this second half, with multiple fouls and reviews.

16:45 — We have another review. Matas Vokietaitis was whistled for foul, but Sean Miller wanted it reviewed because he thought Trey Kaufman-Renn hooked Vokietaitis to draw the foul. The appeal was unsuccessful. Texas will be charged with a timeout. Vokietaitis has three fouls.

16:55 — Texas leads 44-43, but Oscar Cluff just picked up is third foul. That's bad news for the Boilers, because they need a post presence. Jack Benter checks into the game.

19:17 — A flagrant foul has been issued to bot Trey Kaufman-Renn and Camden Heide.

19:17 — Camden Heide and Trey Kaufman-Renn got tangled up and a foul was whistled against Heide. The play is under review.

1st half

HALF — This hasn't been an ideal performance from Oscar Cluff, who ends the half 0-of-2 from the floor and he has just one rebound and two fouls. The Boilermakers need him to have a presence in the post and on the glass.

HALF — Purdue 39, Texas 35. Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn have accounted for 25 points in the first half for the Boilermakers. As a team, Purdue is shooting just 25% from three, but 53% from the floor. Boilers are winning the battle on the boards 17-14 and have just three turnovers.

Tramon Mark leads Texas with 12 points, and Jordan Pope has nine. Texas is 6-of-16 from three-point range.

1:03 — Fletcher Loyer has hit some big shots to put Purdue ahead 37-30, but Texas doesn't back down. Mark Pope knocks down a three to pull within two. The Boilers have really struggled to get stops in this first half.

3:13 — The foul on Matas Vokietaitis has been upgraded to a flagrant. The Boilermakers now lead by two points after Fletcher Loyer made both free throws. Both Oscar Cluff and Vokietaitis have two fouls.

3:13 — Final media timeout of the half and Purdue and Texas are tied 30-30. Trey Kaufman-Renn up to 10 points and five rebounds for the Boilermakers. Oscar Cluff really hasn't been effective today, but tat needs to change in the second half. Before break, C.J. Cox took an elbow from Matas Vokietaitis to draw an offensive foul.

6:45 — Purdue has made 5-of-6 field goal attempts and now has a three-point advantage. Gicarri Harris had a highlight-reel level dunk to extend the Boilermaker advantage here in the first half.

9:16 — Braden Smith with a nifty move for a layup to put Purdue ahead 28-25. Sean Miller takes a timeout. Things are coming easier in the offense tonight, but the defense continues to struggle. Purdue is going to have to get stops, because this Texas team can score at a high level.

10:03 — Purdue regains the lead at 22-21. Jack Benter took a charge on the defensive end, the Braden Smith connected with Trey Kaufman-Renn for a bucket to give the Boilers a lead again.

10:48 — Our first media timeout comes more than nine minutes into the game. Just an insane run of clean basketball by both teams. Texas leads Purdue 20-18 and is shooting 8-of-14 from the floor. Tramon Mark has been sizzling, already up to 10 points for the Longhorns.

C.J. Cox and Fletcehr Loyer have both scored six piints for Purdue, but the Boilers have left some points on the floor. Oscar Cluff missed two shots at the basket and the team is just 2-of-6 from long range to start.

12:20 — A really long start to this game without a media timeout. Texas has taken a 17-16 advantage. Both teams look like they could use a break right now.

16:32 — Oscar Cluff has had a few good looks right at the basket, but Matas Vokietaitis' length has forced those shots to be off. It's 6-5 in favor of the Boilermakers early.

19:41 — Just 19 seconds into the game and Tramon Mark picks up an early foul, the Fletcher Loyer knocks down a three-pointer. Great start for Purdue.

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).
Texas — #0 Jordan Pope (G), #12 Tramon Mark (G), #3 Dailyn Swain (F), #5 Camden Heide (F), #8 Matas Vokietaitis (C).

Pregame

Texas senior guard Jordan Pope will also play tonight. He was initially listed as "questionable," and was not listed among the team's starters for the game. Pope is now in the starting lineup.

Sophomore guard C.J. Cox is listed as a starter for tonight's game against Texas. That means he will play, but will he be on any restrictions? It's a big deal for the Boilermakers, as he was listed as questionable.

Tipoff between Purdue and Texas is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. The game will air on CBS.

What's at stake

All season, Purdue has talked about the desire to return to the Final Four and to win a national championship. Thursday night's game is the next step towards that goal.

The Boilermakers have played well in the first two games, defeating both Queens and Miami by double digits. But the longer the tournament goes, the more challenging the opponent. Texas may be a No. 11 seed, but the Longhorns present plenty of challenges.

Purdue has been led by its senior trio of Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer. Those three have carried a heavy workload throughout their careers, and they can't let up if the Boilers are to return to college basketball's premier event.

Texas has already made it much further in March Madness as a No. 11 seed that barely made the field. At this point, the Longhorns are playing with house money. Sometimes, those can be the most dangerous teams to play in the postseason.

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