Purdue's Oscar Cluff Drives Purdue to Historic Season-Sweep of Michigan in Big Ten Final!
Purdue basketball defeated Michigan 80-72 to win its third Big Ten Tournament championship, led by Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn.
CHICAGO − Four games in four days, culminating with a Big Ten Tournament championship game against perhaps the best team in the country. Purdue basketball was up for the challenge. Oscar Cluff's dunk with 1:17 to go put a stamp on the Boilermakers ' 80-72 title game victory over regular season Big Ten champion Michigan at United Center.
Cluff sealed the title win at the free throw line late, along with four straight makes from Jack Benter. It's the third Big Ten Tournament championship for Purdue, which won in 2009 and 2023, the latter also at United Center. Purdue basketball turning point vs.
Michigan in Big Ten title game After Elliott Cadeau's basket just before the halftime buzzer tied the score at 38, Purdue responded with a second half haymaker out of the gate. More: Why Purdue basketball guard Braden Smith is wearing a 41 jersey vs Michigan The Boilermakers scored seven straight points, ignited by Fletcher Loyer's 3-pointer, to open the half. Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn went to the pick and roll Michigan had no answer for, resulting in four straight made baskets for Kaufman-Renn.
Smith's conventional three-point play with 12:06 to go put the Boilermakers ahead 58-46. How many assists does Braden Smith need to break NCAA record? Braden Smith entered Sunday's game against Michigan needing 12 assists to tie Bobby Hurley's NCAA record of 1,076.