Purdue rallied to defeat Nebraska 80-77 in overtime on Tuesday night, overcoming a blown 22-point lead to secure a crucial Big Ten win. The Boilermakers dominated the boards and closed strong in the extra period. This victory propelled Purdue into the top 10 of the latest college basketball rankings.
Purdue, the preseason No. 1 team that had yet to defeat a ranked opponent in Big Ten play this season, traveled to Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, for a matchup against the Cornhuskers. The Boilermakers jumped out to a 14-1 lead early and built a 22-point advantage in the second half, showcasing their potential as a Final Four contender. However, Nebraska mounted a resilient comeback, erasing the deficit and taking their first lead of the game in the final 90 seconds of regulation to force overtime.
In the extra period, Purdue grabbed six offensive rebounds and finished with a 5-0 run to seal the 80-77 win. The Boilermakers out-rebounded Nebraska 54-37 overall, with Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn combining for 33 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive end. Cluff alone secured 10 offensive boards, contributing to Purdue's second-chance opportunities. Nebraska's senior forward Rienk Mast scored 18 points before fouling out, while the Cornhuskers drew energy from a sellout crowd but fell short despite the late surge.
Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged Purdue's physicality, saying, “We’ve played against bigger opponents, and we haven’t had anything close to this happen.” For the Huskers, who started the season 20-0, this marked their third loss in four games, all single-digit defeats against top-15 teams. They remain positioned for their first NCAA Tournament appearance in years.
The win boosted Purdue to No. 8 in Wednesday's CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 rankings, up from No. 12, displacing Gonzaga and Michigan State by one spot each. Michigan holds steady at No. 1. Purdue's next challenge is a Saturday road game at Iowa.
