Purdue Basketball Survives a Heart-Attack Special In Lincoln

If you are a Purdue fan, you might want to call your cardiologist today. Just to be safe. Tuesday night in Lincoln wasn’t just a basketball game; it was a psychological thriller, a comedy of errors, and eventually, a redemption story all wrapped into 45 minutes of action.

In a game that saw the 12th-ranked Boilermakers blow a comfortable 22-point lead only to claw their way back in overtime, Purdue walked out of Pinnacle Bank Arena with an 80-77 victory over No. 7 Nebraska. It wasn’t pretty. In fact, at times it was downright ugly. But in the Big Ten, nobody asks how you painted the picture; they just look at the W in the win column.

The Tale Of Two Halves

For the first 25 minutes, Purdue looked like they were putting on a clinic. Fletcher Loyer came out of the gates looking like he couldn’t miss if he tried, splashing threes and helping the Boilers sprint out to a 14-1 lead. The silence in Pinnacle Bank Arena was deafening. By the time the second half was underway, Purdue had built a 22-point cushion. The bus engines were practically running; the “statement win” headlines were being written.

And then, the wheels fell off. Nebraska, proving why its home court is a nightmare for visitors, woke up. The Huskers went on a blistering 18-2 run that turned a blowout into a brawl. Purdue’s offense, which had looked so fluid, suddenly looked like it was moving through molasses. The noise level in Lincoln went from library to jet engine, and you could visibly see the momentum shift.

Free Throw Nightmares and Near Misses

Purdue tried to give this game away. If you are a purist who loves fundamental basketball, look away from the free-throw stats. The Boilermakers finished a dismal 11-of-20 from the charity stripe.

In the final minute of regulation, with the game on the line, the team missed four straight free throws. It was the kind of collapse that usually haunts a team for weeks. When Nebraska’s Rienk Mast stepped to the line with seconds left and a chance to take the lead, it felt like the final nail in the coffin. But Mast missed, Braden Smith’s last-second heave didn’t fall, and we were heading to overtime.

It felt like Purdue had exhausted their luck. Usually, when you blow a 22-point lead on the road and choke at the line, you don’t win in OT.

Oscar Cluff Plays Hero Ball

Enter Oscar Cluff. The senior center didn’t just play big; he played the role of savior. In overtime, with the teams trading blows like heavyweight boxers, Cluff demanded the ball. With 5.2 seconds left on the clock, he caught a pass from Loyer, spun left into traffic, and banked in the go-ahead bucket while drawing a foul. But he wasn’t done.

After missing the subsequent free throw, Nebraska had a chance for a Hail Mary inbound pass to win or tie. Who was there to intercept it? Cluff. He picked off the pass at the buzzer like a free safety, sealing a win that felt impossible just minutes prior. He finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, but those final two plays are what will be on the highlight reel.

Dominating the Glass

While the shooting was erratic and the free throws were stressful, Purdue won this game the old-fashioned way: brute force. The rebounding numbers from this game are comical. Purdue demolished Nebraska on the glass, 54-37. The stars of this show were Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Kaufman-Renn might have only scored 6 points, but he pulled down a monster 19 rebounds. Combined, the two big men grabbed 33 boards.

When the shots weren’t falling—and for Loyer (5-of-20) and Smith, they often weren’t—the big men cleaned up the mess. That effort is the only reason Purdue survived the Nebraska comeback.

Braden Smith Chasing History

Amidst the chaos, Braden Smith quietly continued his assault on the record books. While he struggled with his shot, he managed a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. He is now sitting at 968 career assists, just 108 shy of Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA record. It wasn’t his cleanest game, but his ability to facilitate even when his shot is broken is what makes this team tick.

What This Win Means

Purdue needed this. Coming off a rough patch where they had lost three straight and struggled to close out games, a loss here, especially after leading by 22, could have been catastrophic for morale.

Instead, they showed resilience. They took Nebraska’s best punch, survived their own mistakes, and found a way to win in a hostile environment. With a brutal schedule ahead featuring Iowa, No. 2 Michigan, and Indiana, this gritty, heart-stopping win might be the spark they needed to get back on track for the Big Ten title race.