Boilers Back on Top

No. 7 seed Purdue is your 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Champion after defeating No. 1 seed Michigan in the championship game of the TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament. The Boilers become just the second Big Ten team (and third team overall) to defeat the defending tournament champions this season after claiming their third tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

The first half reminded us all why we love March basketball. There were five lead changes and four ties, and neither squad took a lead larger than six points at any time in the half. Every single basket came with a roar and a standing ovation as the teams threw punches early and often. Trey Kaufman-Renn led Purdue on a 9-0 run that put the Boilers ahead with just 1:26 remaining in the first period, but Aday Mara and Elliot Cadeau responded immediately for the Wolverines to tie the game at 38 at halftime.

Whatever head coach Matt Painter said to his Boilermaker crew at the break? Worked. Purdue came out of the locker room full steam ahead, opening scoring with a 7-0 run in the second half and never trailed the rest of the way. The Wolverines persisted with big pushes from Yaxel Lendeborg (20 points), Mara (14 points, seven rebounds), and Cadeau (10 points, 10 assists), but every time there was a hint of Michigan momentum, Purdue responded. The Boilermaker faithful were on their feet for the final minute, clapping and cheering along with the rest of the fans back in West Lafayette (and around the nation).

Braden Smith was named the Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player after finishing the championship game with 14 points and 11 assists. Oscar Cluff led the Boilers in scoring with 21 points, followed by Kaufman-Renn (20 points), and Fletcher Loyer (14 points).

Smith heads into the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament just two assists away from breaking the NCAA's all-time career record. The Boilers head to the tournament as a No. 2 seed and will face the Queens Royals in the first round.

Full game breakdown below. 👇 Get the official Big Ten Champ gear here .

First Half: Buckle up, folks.

• This is what you came for. It's a back-and-forth battle off the bat. Nimari Burnett buries two early threes for Michigan, while three different Boilers get on the scoreboard early. It's 7-6 Purdue at 17:25.
• Oscar Cluff puts up his sixth point already to push Purdue's advantage to three. He had just four tallies in the last meeting with the Wolverines. It's 11-8 Boilers with 15:53 remaining.
• Yaxel Lendeborg takes the lead for Michigan with a solo 5-0 spurt. It's 13-11 Wolverines at the media (14:37).
• Trey Kaufman-Renn counters with four straight of his own to grab it right back. 15-13 Purdue (12:43).
• Morez Johnson Jr. Trey McKenney. Braden Smith. Another tie, another lead change, another tie. 8:47 to go.
• An Elliot Cadeau triiple and Aday Mara dunk put Michigan back up five. 22-17, 6:48.
• Loyer counters with a four-point play to put Purdue back within one before Lendeborg slams one down of his own. 24-21, 6:08.
• The teams tade buckets, but Michigan maintains its lead thanks to four points from both Burnett and Johnson Jr.
• PURDUE GOES ON A 9-0 RUN to take the lead! Kaufman-Renn leads the charge with four points, while Jack Benter and Smith add a triple and a jumper, respectively. 1:26 left in the half.
• Smith gives Purdue a four-point advantage, but a Mara dunk and a last-second layup from Cadeau leave us tied at the half! 👀

Second Half: It's all coming up Boilers

• Purdue comes out of the break hot with a 7-0 run! The Boilers lead by seven at 17:45.
• Mara, Lendeborg, and Mara all score for the Wolverines, but Smith and Kaufman-Renn have combined for Purdue's last 12 points to maintain a 57-46 edge! Michigan calls timeout with 12:06 to go.
• Back-to-back dunks from Mara cut the Wolverines' deficit to single digits, but Cluff nails two free throws to put the Boilers back up 64-54 with 8:29 on the clock.
• A Lendeborg triple puts Michigan within five, but Cluff and Loyer both score to stay ahead. 72-63 with 2:44 remaining.
• McKenney, Mara, Lendeborg, and Burnett all strike for the Wolverines, but Benter and Cluff sink free throws down the stretch (and an awesome dunk), and...
• PURDUE WINS THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TITLE, 80-72!

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