Purdue Boilermakers vs USC Trojans
Trey Kaufman-Renn scores 30 and No. 20 Purdue beats USC 76-71 in Big Ten Tournament
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Trey Kaufman-Renn matched a career high with 30 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 28 seconds left, and No. 20 Purdue scored the final five points to beat Southern California 76-71 on Thursday night in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The sixth-seeded Boilermakers (22-10) trailed by 10 points in the first half, but they tied it by halftime and emerged from a back-and-forth second half thanks largely to Kaufman-Renn, who finished 12 of 20 from the field and 6 of 11 from the free-throw line.
Purdue advanced to face No. 22 and second-seeded Michigan in Friday’s quarterfinals. The teams split this season, with each winning at home.
With USC (16-17) trailing by three in the closing seconds, Desmond Claude turned the ball over before the Trojans could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith made two free throws to finish the scoring with 3.6 seconds remaining. Smith had 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting and nine assists.
Claude led the Trojans with 18 points. Wesley Yates added 13.
USC: The Trojans have the athletic skill and length to match up with most teams and pushed Purdue despite having played a double-overtime game the night before. On talent alone, this team should get an NIT bid.
Purdue: Despite struggling to defend taller, quicker players in the backcourt, the Boilermakers did just enough in the final moments. They had lost five of their previous seven.
Kaufman-Renn made a layup with 5:14 left to tie the game at 67-all, and Purdue never trailed gain.
Purdue made 15 of 23 free throws. USC was 10 of 14.
The Trojans await a possible NIT bid while the Boilermakers' tournament run continues.
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Game Information
Indianapolis, IN
Referee:D.J. Carstensen
Referee:Tim Comer
Referee:Paul Szelc
2025-26 Standings
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 7-0 | - | 18-0 |
| Michigan | 7-1 | 0.5 | 17-1 |
| Michigan State | 7-1 | 0.5 | 17-2 |
| Purdue | 7-1 | 0.5 | 17-2 |
| Illinois | 6-1 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Wisconsin | 5-2 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Ohio State | 5-3 | 2.5 | 13-5 |
| UCLA | 5-3 | 2.5 | 13-6 |
| Iowa | 4-4 | 3.5 | 14-5 |
| USC | 3-4 | 4 | 14-4 |
| Indiana | 3-5 | 4.5 | 12-7 |
| Minnesota | 3-5 | 4.5 | 10-9 |
| Washington | 2-5 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Rutgers | 2-6 | 5.5 | 9-10 |
| Maryland | 1-6 | 6 | 8-10 |
| Oregon | 1-7 | 6.5 | 8-11 |
| Penn State | 0-7 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Northwestern | 0-7 | 7 | 8-10 |
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