Wisconsin tops Purdue in OT to reach Big Ten title game
Mar 16, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) works up the court as Wisconsin Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn (23) defends during the first half at Target Center. credits: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports Max Klesmit's floater bounced in for the decisive basket with 4.8 seconds remaining and fifth-seeded Wisconsin upset top-seeded Purdue 76-75 in overtime on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis to advance to the Big Ten tournament title game.
Chucky Hepburn had 22 points and three steals and AJ Storr scored 20 points for the Badgers (22-12) but Klesmit was the hero with 12 points. He drove into the lane and put up a floater that found the bottom of the net to push Wisconsin into the tournament championship game.
A last-second 3-point attempt by Purdue's Lance Jones missed everything as the buzzer sounded.
Wisconsin faces either second-seeded Illinois or third-seeded Nebraska in Sunday's title game.
Zach Edey recorded 28 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots for the third-ranked Boilermakers (29-4). He also became Purdue's all-time leading scorer with 2,339 career points, surpassing legendary Rick Mount (1967-70), who scored 2,323 points in three seasons for the Boilermakers.
Point guard Braden Smith played through a calf injury sustained Friday and had seven points and 10 assists before fouling out for the Boilermakers, who had a five-game winning streak come to an end.
Hepburn's layup out of a sideline out of bounds play as time expired forced the extra session.
Edey went 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in overtime to help Purdue hold a 75-72 edge with 46 seconds left. He made 14 of 19 free throws in the game.
Hepburn drove for a layup to make it a one-point game with 38.6 seconds left before Klesmit became the hero.
In regulation, Edey converted a three-point play to give the Boilermakers a 65-62 lead with 46.8 seconds left.
Hepburn made a layup with 6.5 seconds remaining to bring Wisconsin within one. Edey split two free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining to put Purdue ahead by two before Hepburn drove for an easy basket.
Steven Crowl tallied 11 points before fouling out for the Badgers, who connected on 43.2 percent of its attempts and 7 of 32 from behind the arc.
Purdue shot 45.1 percent from the field, including 5 of 16 from 3-point range.
Hepburn's steal and dunk gave Wisconsin a 51-49 edge with 8:22 remaining. Mason Gillis hit a 3-pointer to put the Boilermakers ahead and Edey followed with a jump hook with 7:18 left, the basket that allowed him to pass Mount.
Wisconsin later led 58-56 after a trey from Carter Gilmore with 4:31 left. But Gillis and Fletcher Loyer hit 3-pointers as Purdue took a 62-58 advantage with 3:09 remaining.
Baskets by Hepburn and Klesmit enabled the Badgers to knot the score with two minutes left.
Storr scored 14 first-half points in a game that was tied at 36 at the break.
—Field Level Media
Related
Cleveland Browns Need To Move on From Deshaun Watson Era
Duke’s Collapse vs UConn Adds to Troubling March Pattern
NBA Best Bets Today: Top Betting Picks for Monday March 30th
Why Illinois Is the Most Dangerous Team in the Final Four
Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest
- Top NBA Bets Today: Expert Picks for March 29 Slate
- UFC Seattle Predictions: Adesanya vs Pyfer Main Event Betting Picks and More
- Arizona vs Purdue Elite 8 March Madness Betting Picks, Prediction
- NBA Picks for March 27: Best Bets for Friday Night Slate
- Why St. John's Can Cover Sweet 16 Spread Against Duke
- MLB Best Betting Picks for Friday March 27th Slate
- Three Sweet 16 Teams To Avoid Betting in March Madness This Weekend

