Purdue Returns to Title Game

No. 7 seed Purdue secured its spot in the Big Ten Tournament title game with a hard-fought 73-66 victory over No. 6 seed UCLA. The Boilers came out blazing, opening with a 15-2 run fueled by Fletcher Loyer’s scoring, but UCLA quickly countered with a 7-0 spurt to stay within striking distance. Despite the Bruins tying the game, Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn and Omer Mayer helped the Boilers maintain a 34-27 halftime lead.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with Loyer’s back-to-back triples giving Purdue early momentum. UCLA, led by Eric Dailey Jr. and Skyy Clark, chipped away at the lead with multiple runs, including a 9-0 surge that brought them within one late in the game. Each time, however, Purdue had an answer. Oscar Cluff dominated the boards, finishing with a double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds), and made clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Braden Smith’s nine assists and Purdue’s rebounding edge (37-26) proved pivotal as the Boilers held off UCLA’s late push.

Oh – and Smith is now just 13 helpers shy of breaking the NCAA's all-time career record.

No. 7 seed Purdue advances to take on No. 1 seed Michigan in the championship game at 2:30 p.m. CT tomorrow on CBS. The Boilers fell to Michigan during the regular season and in last year's Big Ten Tournament. Want to see the title game in person?  Click here .

Full game breakdown below. 👇 Get  more tournament stories here .

First Half: Start hot, stay hot

• Purdue starts out scalding with a 15-2 run, capped off with five straight points from Fletcher Loyer. The Boilers have a 13-point edge with 16:07 to go in the half.
• UCLA responds with a 7-0 spurt of its own with scores from Eric Dailey Jr., Trent Perry, and Donovan Dent. It's 15-9 Boilers with 12:28 to go.
• Notable: Braden Smith has six assists already (6:38). Fletcher Loyer leads Purdue with eight points.
• Xavier Booker leads UCLA on an 8-0 run to tie the game, but Trey Kaufman-Renn keeps the Boilers ahead. It's 19-17 Purdue at the media (6:10).
• Purdue mounts a 9-0 run, capped off by a triple from Omer Mayer. The Boilers lead 26-17 (3:55).
• Notable: Purdue is winning the rebounding battle so far, 21-12, led by seven from Oscar Cluff.
• The teams both score down the stretch, and a Jack Benter buzzer-beating three keeps Purdue ahead 34-27 at half.

Second Half: Answering every time

• Loyer opens the half with back-to-back triples! Purdue leads 40-27 at 19:17.
• Dailey Jr. leads UCLA to a seven-point spurt to pull within six. 40-34 Purdue with 17:24 still to go.
• Cluff and the Boilers counter right away, pushing their lead back out to 45-34.
• Notable: Donovan Dent is out with an injury.
• UCLA goes on a 7-1 run, but Daniel Jacobsen breaks it up with a layup and a dunk. 53-43 Purdue, 11:19 on the clock.
• Notable: The Boilers are still controlling the boards, 30-21. Cluff (10) and Kaufman-Renn (8) lead the way.
• The teams trade buckets before a 9-0 UCLA run puts them within one! Skyy Clark scores five in the spurt to make it 58-57 with 6:14 to go.
• PERRY TIES IT WITH A JUMPER! We're knotted at 60 with 4:33 remaining.
• The teams go tit-for-tat before a C. J. Cox breakaway layup and two points from Cluff give Purdue a 68-62 edge with 2:04 left.
• Clark comes through with another Bruins bucket, but Cluff makes a pair of clutch free throws for a 70-64 lead with just 43 seconds on the clock.
• Both squads score, but Cluff closes it out with a couple more free throws, and...
• PURDUE ADVANCES TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! Final score: 73-66.
• Notable: Oscar Cluff finishes with a double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds). Braden Smith finishes with nine assists, putting him 12 shy of the NCAA all-time assists record.
• Key Contributor (UCLA): Trent Perry (15 points), Eric Dailey Jr. (11 points, 10 rebounds).

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