Purdue’s Gutsy Win Over Memphis: More Than Just a Game
The No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers walked into the Baha Mar Championship with the swagger of a top-ranked team, but Memphis clearly didn’t get the memo. They came out swinging, looking to turn this island getaway into a nightmare for Purdue. In the end, the Boilermakers survived the chaos, pulling out an 80-71 victory that felt less like a basketball game and more like a 40-minute wrestling match on a slippery court.
This wasn’t pretty. It was gritty, chippy, and at times, downright bizarre. If you were looking for a smooth, highlight-reel performance, you probably changed the channel. But if you wanted to see a team’s heart tested, you got your money’s worth. Purdue showed that even when their shots aren’t falling and the whistles are blowing, they have the grit to find a way to win. And sometimes, those are the wins that mean the most.
Second Half: When Things Got Weird
The second half started with Purdue looking like they’d rather be anywhere else. Memphis jumped out with a quick 5-0 run, and the Boilermakers seemed to be sleepwalking through the Bahamian breeze. Foul trouble was a massive headache. Braden Smith and Daniel Jacobsen were walking on eggshells with four fouls each, and Trey Kaufman-Renn was practically glued to the bench with his own collection of whistles.
The tension finally boiled over around the eight-minute mark. Aaron Bradshaw of Memphis took a spill and decided to get in Oscar Cluff’s face about it. It was like watching two heavyweights size each other up in the ring before the officials stepped in and sent everyone to their corners. Moments later, Bradshaw was hit with a technical foul, and you could feel the momentum start to teeter. Fletcher Loyer, cool as a cucumber, stepped up and sank both free throws to tie the game.
That’s when Purdue’s shooters decided to wake up. With the game on the line, Fletcher Loyer, who couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half, suddenly couldn’t miss. He drained a massive three-pointer with just over three minutes left, pushing Purdue’s lead to nine and finally giving the Boilermakers some breathing room. It was a “get off me” shot that screamed, “We’re not losing this game.”
First Half: A Sign Of Things To Come
From the opening tip, you knew this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. Memphis came out firing, hitting three-pointers and playing defense like their lives depended on it. Purdue looked rattled, struggling to find any rhythm against the Tigers’ relentless pressure. They were an ugly 1-for-7 from beyond the arc early on, and it felt like every shot was a battle.
Trey Kaufman-Renn was the lone bright spot, playing like a man possessed with 8 points and 6 rebounds before the second media timeout. But then, disaster struck. Kaufman-Renn, clearly fed up with the officiating, picked up a technical foul. Just like that, he had three fouls, and Memphis took advantage.
Just when it looked like Purdue would stumble into halftime trailing, Braden Smith answered with a prayer. As the clock expired, he launched a buzzer-beater that somehow found the bottom of the net, giving the Boilermakers a one-point lead and a massive shot of adrenaline heading into the locker room. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated chaos—and it perfectly summed up the entire half.
Key Takeaways From the Trenches
This game was a character-builder, plain and simple. We learned that when the going gets tough, guys like Fletcher Loyer and CJ Cox are ready to step up. Loyer’s second-half explosion (18 points after a scoreless start) and Cox’s timely threes were the difference-makers. We also learned that this team can win ugly, which is a trait all championship contenders need.
However, the game also exposed some vulnerabilities. The Boilermakers can’t afford to let frustration lead to costly technical fouls, and the near-disaster with the slippery court was a reminder that you can’t control everything. But in the end, they found a way. They survived, they advanced, and they’ll live to fight another day in the Bahamas.
