It was a big night for the Big Ten, starting with Trey Kaufman-Renn, who spent four years hearing Matt Painter preach the value of second‑chance plays. On Thursday night in San Jose, he delivered the biggest one of his career.
Kaufman-Renn tipped in a missed Braden Smith runner with 0.7 seconds left, lifting No. 2 seed Purdue to a 79-77 win over 11th‑seeded Texas in the Sweet 16. The finish capped a dominant night for Kaufman-Renn, who scored 20 points and hit his first seven shots while controlling the interior early.
ALL THE SPORTS NEWS YOU WILL NEED – SPORTS TALK FLORIDA
Texas tied the game moments earlier when Dailyn Swain converted a three‑point play with 11.9 seconds remaining. Smith, who scored 16, had given Purdue the lead on a drive with 38 seconds left. The Boilermakers now move on to face top‑seeded Arizona in the West Region final with a Final Four berth on the line.
Iowa continues its stunning run under first‑year coach Ben McCollum
Iowa’s March surge under first‑year coach Ben McCollum added another chapter as the ninth‑seeded Hawkeyes beat Nebraska 77-71 in the South Region semifinal.
Bennett Stirtz scored 20 points and Alvaro Folgueiras added 16, including the game’s defining sequence. With Nebraska scrambling and only four defenders on the floor, Folgueiras slipped free for a three‑point play that pushed Iowa’s lead to six. He followed it with a dunk in the final minute to seal the win.
The Hawkeyes, who stunned top‑seeded Florida in the second round, are now the lowest‑seeded Big Ten team to reach a regional final since seeding began in 1979. They will face Illinois on Saturday with a trip to the Final Four at stake.
Illinois shuts down Houston to reach another Elite Eight
Illinois delivered one of its most complete defensive performances of the season, beating second‑seeded Houston 65-55 to advance to its 11th Elite Eight and second in three years.
David Mirkovic powered the Illini with 14 points and 10 rebounds as Illinois frustrated last year’s national runner‑up from start to finish. Houston, playing just miles from its campus, never found rhythm against Illinois’ physicality and cold shooting stretches.
The Illini now prepare for a Big Ten showdown with Iowa in the South Region final.
Arizona overwhelms Arkansas with a record‑setting offensive display
From the opening minutes, Arizona looked unstoppable.
The top‑seeded Wildcats exploded for a 109-88 win over Arkansas behind a balanced, blistering offensive attack. Freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat each scored 21 points as Arizona reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015.
Peat called it the most fun he has had playing basketball, praising the team’s chemistry and pace. Arizona has now won 12 straight and will face Purdue in a marquee West Region final matchup.
