Boilers fail to punch ticket in San Jose into Final Four

SAN JOSE, Calif — After another year of history continuing to be written, Purdue’s March Madness run is cut short after failing to claim the title as West Regional Champions. Today marks the Boilermaker’s 10th consecutive loss to a No. 1-seed since 1997.

The No. 2-seed Purdue Boilermakers extended their stay in San Jose, California, after outlasting the Texas Longhorns Thursday evening. Awaiting them Saturday was the biggest threat they’ve faced yet — the No. 1-seed Arizona Wildcats.

Arizona brought the intensity at the beginning of the tipoff as it built the first lead. The Wildcats outpaced the Boilers at every opportunity given and forced Purdue to fumble shot after shot. It wasn’t until coach Matt Painter decided to change up the lineup that the Boilermakers were able to rally back.

By adding two centers into the mix, senior center Oscar Cluff and sophomore center Daniel Jacobsen, the defensive wall in the paint strengthened. Before anyone knew it, the Boilers were back in the game and led at halftime 38-31.

The lead was shortly matched after five minutes into the second half, with Arizona racing back. Purdue was unable to make a comeback from that point, allowing the Wildcats to hover around a double-digit lead for the rest of the way.

After a late three from senior guard Fletcher Loyer, assisted by senior guard Braden Smith one last time, Arizona finished the game 79-64 and sent the Boilermakers back to Indiana without a ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium.

This marks the last collegiate game for Purdue’s senior trio of Smith, Loyer and senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. Outside of the loss, one last record was achieved for the books, as Smith claimed the crown for most minutes by a four-year player in NCAA history.