March Madness Update: Sweet 16
- emeredith55
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
by Elias Meredith
Sportz Nation - 3/28/26
THURSDAY:
11TEXAS vs 2PURDUE
After a dominant first two rounds, the Purdue Boilermakers faced their first test of the tournament. The inspired Texas Longhorns gave Purdue a run for their money, but the veteran Boilermakers overcame a great performance by senior guard Tramon Mark to defeat the Longhorns 79-77. Senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn notched his second 20+ point game of the tournament on a game-winning tip-in.
The first half was an offensive duel with both teams combining for 74 first half points. Purdue’s largest lead of the half was fueled by 7 straight points that was scored by senior guard Fletcher Loyer. This was a 7-0 run that put Purdue up 37-30 with 2:16 remaining in the first half. Texas would respond by getting their deficit back down to 4 by the end of the first half, 39-35
The halftime break did not slow down these red hot offenses. Both teams came out the gates firing, as 11 of the first 15 shots of the second half were made. This game was fit to be a classic, and it was.
Junior guard C.J. Cox’s two free throws put Purdue up 77-74 with 19 seconds left in regulation. Junior guard Dailyn Swain scored the biggest bucket of the Longhorns’ season. Swain finished through contact to give himself an and-one opportunity at the free throw line. Swain would convert at the line to tie the game at 77 with 11 seconds left in regulation, but Purdue would have the final shot.
Purdue’s head coach Andrew Painter drew up a play for his All-American point guard Braden Smith to isolate at the top of the key. When Smith’s driving layup clanged off the rim. Kaufman-Renn was there to clean up the mess. The tip-in was a game winner as the Longhorns did not have time to get a full court heave off with 0.7 seconds left.
Key to Victory: Smith and Cluff comes alive
Braden Smith and senior center Oscar Cluff combined for 4 total points in the first half (all scored by Smith), and finished the game with 27 combined points. The senior's second half production was critical to Purdue’s competitiveness in the second half.
Next for the Boilermakers: NCAA Tournament | Elite Eight | Saturday, March 28 vs Arizona Wildcats at 8:49 PM EST
FRIDAY:
1DUKE VS 5ST.
JOHN’S
Friday night, the Duke Blue Devils and the St. John’s Red Storm met up at Capital One Arena in the heart of Washington D.C. for a chance to go to the Elite 8. The 48 points between Duke’s freshman forward Cameron Boozer and Sophomore wing Isaiah Evans, combined with the 11 points off the bench from veteran guard Caleb Foster would be too much for St. John’s. Cameron Boozer’s 14 second half points contributed to a 10-point comeback, giving the Blue Devils the 80-75 victory.
The first half was full of lead changes with both teams looking to create separation. Duke got to their largest lead of 7 points early and late in the first half. Duke looked poised to extend the lead to double digits going into halftime, going on a 11-2 run to grab a 35-28 lead with 4:20 left in the first half, but St. John’s stormed back.
St. John’s would respond by going on a 12-4 run to take a 40-39 lead going into the locker room. St. John’s was led guard Dillion Mitchell and forward Ruben Prey, who each had 9 points in the first half. Duke was led by Isaiah Evans, who had 11 first half points.
The halftime break did not slow down the Red Storm, as they opened up the second half on a 15-6 run to get their largest lead of the game at 10 points, but Duke responded with a run of their own.
Duke’s 18-7 scoring run got them back in the game. Caleb Foster started the offensive explosion by scoring the first 7 points of the run for Duke. This would give Duke their first lead of the second half.
The last three minutes was action packed as Foster’s mid range jumper would put Duke up 75-69. Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor would drill his second three of the game to cut the deficit to three, but Foster would respond with a tough finish in the paint to make it 77-72.
After Evans made one of two free throws, St. John’s had an opportunity to tie the game with the shot clock unplugged. Junior guard Dylan Darling had a chance to repeat his late game heroics again, as a devastating left-to-right crossover gave him an open three point look, but it was missed.
Duke’s best player and protected lottery pick Cameron Boozer would ice the game at the line for his club. Boozer would continue his double-double streak, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
Key to Victory: Caleb Foster
Caleb Foster was the X-factor for Duke. After not playing in a game in nearly three weeks because of a fracture in his right foot, Foster would be a huge spark for Duke. Foster would drop 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field off the bench for Duke.
His impact was so critical that head coach Jon Scheyer closed the game with his captain on the floor.
Next for the Blue Devils: NCAA Tournament | Elite Eight | Sunday, March 29 vs UCONN Huskies at 5:05 PM EST
Thank you for reading!
Elias Meredith (@EAM_55)