NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The No. 11 Texas Longhorns’ Cinderella story in the NCAA Tournament came to an end Thursday night, as Trey Kaufman-Renn’s tip-in with 0.7 seconds left gave No. 2 Purdue a 79-77 lead to advance to the Elite Eight.
It was a thriller until the end in this Sweet 16 matchup between a team that needed to play in the top four to start the tournament and one of the highest seeds in March Madness.
Dailyn Swain of the Longhorns made a clutch and-one layup with 11 seconds left, allowing him to tie the game at 77 apiece if he made his free throw. He was successful with the pressure, but the Boilermakers had 11 seconds to get on the court and potentially win the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Trey Kaufman-Renn of the Purdue Boilermakers dribbles the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the first half of the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the SAP Center on March 26, 2026, in San Jose, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
It was Braden Smith heading down the lane and making his own layup. However, the ball didn’t have the proper English on the glass, as it started rolling off the rim.
But Kaufman-Renn, who positioned himself under the basket, tipped in the game-winning bucket, giving himself 20 total points to help Purdue advance and keep its tournament dreams alive.
8TH GRADE STUDENT IS ALONE WITH THE LATEST PERFECT NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STACK
There was some discussion on social media, however, as an aerial shot from the point by Kaufman-Renn showed a potential foul, as he hooked the arm of the Longhorns player who was scrambling for the rebound.
Regardless, no whistle blew and the Boilermakers were celebrating, while the Longhorns couldn’t believe their season ended this way.
Trey Kaufman-Renn of the Purdue Boilermakers shoots the game-winning shot against the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the SAP Center on March 26, 2026, in San Jose, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
It was a back-and-forth game throughout the 40 minutes on the pitch, with both teams trading the advantage, especially in the second half. The largest lead of any team was Purdue with just seven points, while Texas’ lead never exceeded four.
But that’s because both teams were shooting well, with Texas making 52 percent of its shots (29 of 56), while Purdue made 48 percent (30 of 62).
Looking closer at the box score, every Boilermakers starter had at least 10 points, while Fletcher Loyer (18) and Braden Smith (16) did crucial work in the backcourt to help the winning cause.
Meanwhile, Texas’ Tramon Mark left it all on the court, shooting 11 of 15 for 29 points, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Swain also narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds, while recording five assists.
Trey Kaufman-Renn of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates with teammates after making the game-winning shot against the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the SAP Center on March 26, 2026, in San Jose, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Purdue now awaits the winner of Arkansas and Arizona to see who they must face to earn a spot in this year’s Final Four, which will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
