Kaufman Renn’s Last-Second Tip Sends Purdue Past Texas in Sweet 16 Thriller

SAN JOSE, Calif. — For nearly 40 minutes, Texas refused to go away.

Every Purdue run found an answer. Every chance for the Boilermakers to create separation disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. With a trip to the Elite Eight hanging in the balance, the Sweet 16 matchup at SAP Center came down to one final possession.

And one final touch.

Trey Kaufman-Renn tipped in a missed Braden Smith layup with 0.7 seconds remaining Thursday night, lifting No. 2 seed Purdue past No. 11 Texas, 79–77, and into the Elite Eight.

It was a fitting finish to a game in which neither side could take control. Purdue’s largest lead was seven points, Texas’ was four, and the entire second half was played within a four-point margin.

Purdue battles Texas for possession during their NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup at SAP Center in San Jose on March 26, 2026.P hoto by Tyler Shaw / Florenza Press

Texas appeared to have forced overtime seconds earlier.

Trailing 77–74, Dailyn Swain attacked the basket and finished through contact with 11.9 seconds remaining. He converted the ensuing free throw, completing the three-point play and tying the game at 77.

Purdue chose not to call timeout.

Smith drove toward the basket on the other end and put up what could have been the game-winning attempt. It missed.

Kaufman-Renn was waiting underneath.

The senior reached above the defense and redirected the ball through the basket, giving Purdue the lead with less than a second remaining. Texas had virtually no time to respond.

For Kaufman-Renn, the final touch capped one of Purdue’s strongest individual performances of the night. He scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, making his first seven attempts from the field.

Smith added 16 points and five assists, while Fletcher Loyer scored 18 and connected on four 3-pointers. All five Purdue starters finished in double figures, accounting for 75 of the Boilermakers 79 points.

But Purdue could never shake Texas.

Tramon Mark kept the Longhorns alive with one of the best performances of his season. Despite visibly battling an injured leg late in the game, Mark finished with 29 points, the most by a Texas player in an NCAA Tournament game since Kevin Durant scored 30 against USC in 2007.

Texas continued finding ways to respond down the stretch. Chendall Weaver’s putback pulled the Longhorns within one with 1:03 remaining, and Swain’s three-point play eventually erased Purdue’s final advantage.

Until Kaufman-Renn erased it again.

The victory improved Purdue to 30–8 and gave the program its second Elite Eight appearance in three seasons. It also continued a seven-game winning streak that carried the Boilermakers from the Big Ten Tournament deep into March.

Purdue players react from the bench during the Boilermakers’ 79–77 Sweet 16 victory over Texas on March 26, 2026, at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Photo by Tyler Shaw / Florenza Press

For Texas, the tournament run ended at 21–15 after coming within a fraction of a second of taking a No. 2 seed to overtime.

For Purdue, there was still basketball left to play.

The Boilermakers advanced to face No. 1 seed Arizona two days later at SAP Center, with a Final Four berth on the line.