Purdue Beats Michigan for Big Ten Tournament Title

Boilermakers turn shaky finish into championship run in Chicago

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:05pm

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Purdue turned a shaky finish to the regular season into a championship run in the Big Ten Tournament, knocking off third-ranked Michigan 80-72 on Sunday to win the title. Oscar Cluff scored 21 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn added 20, and Braden Smith continued his stellar play with 14 points, 11 assists, and three steals.

Why it matters

Winning the Big Ten Tournament gives Purdue momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament, where they will be a No. 2 seed. After a regular season that ended with some struggles, the Boilermakers have regained their form at the perfect time.

The details

Purdue used its inside-out strength to wear down Michigan in the second half. The game was tied 38-38 at halftime, but the Boilermakers shot the ball with confidence, got quality looks inside, and used a sharp pick-and-roll game to build a lead they never relinquished. Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg scored 20 points and Aday Mara added 17, but Purdue had the better answers when the game tilted.

  • Purdue won the Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Oscar Cluff

Purdue player who scored 21 points in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue player who scored 20 points in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

Braden Smith

Purdue player who had 14 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, leaving him just 1 assist shy of the NCAA career record.

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan player who scored 20 points in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

Aday Mara

Michigan player who scored 17 points in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

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What’s next

Purdue will enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, looking to build on their Big Ten Tournament championship run.

The takeaway

Purdue's Big Ten Tournament title run shows they have regained their form at the perfect time, heading into the NCAA Tournament with momentum after a shaky finish to the regular season. Their blend of inside toughness, backcourt control, and tournament poise makes them a dangerous team that could make a deep March Madness run.