Purdue Cruises Past Queens in NCAA Tournament Opener

Boilermakers' size and defense overwhelm Royals in first-round matchup

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:23am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Purdue, the No. 2 seed in the West Region, opened its NCAA Tournament run with a dominant 95-72 victory over No. 15 seed Queens University of Charlotte. The Boilermakers' frontcourt duo of Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn led the way, with Cluff averaging a double-double and Kaufman-Renn shooting 69% from the field in the Big Ten Tournament. Purdue also took a significant step forward defensively, allowing just 66 points per game in its four wins at the conference tournament.

Why it matters

Purdue is looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament after being bounced in the first round the last two years. The Boilermakers' size and defensive improvement could make them a tough out for any opponent, as they look to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1980.

The details

Purdue dominated Queens in every facet of the game, outrebounding the Royals 42-28 and holding them to just 39.7% shooting from the field. The Boilermakers' defense also limited Queens' ability to drive and attack the paint, a key part of the Royals' offensive strategy. On the other end, Purdue shot 54.1% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range, with Fletcher Loyer continuing his hot shooting streak.

  • Purdue and Queens tipped off at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20, 2026 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

The players

Braden Smith

Purdue's star point guard, who needs just 12 assists to break the NCAA all-time career assist record.

Oscar Cluff

Purdue's starting center, who averaged a double-double in the Big Ten Tournament and was a dominant force in the paint.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue's starting power forward, who averaged 15.3 points on 69% shooting in the Big Ten Tournament.

Fletcher Loyer

Purdue's sharpshooter, who has been on a tear from 3-point range since February 1, making 48.1% of his attempts over the last 14 games.

Grant Leonard

Queens' head coach, who recently made headlines for calling out an SEC assistant coach for scouting at the ASUN Tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I never called out Auburn. My comment was that there was an SEC assistant. I want to make sure I am clear on this. Whether something is within the rules or not, coaches, no matter whether it is men's or women's, we are trying to lead and mold young people. We are trying to prepare them for their next phase in life through whatever sport we are coaching.”

— Grant Leonard, Queens Head Coach

What’s next

Purdue will face the winner of the matchup between No. 7 seed San Diego State and No. 10 seed Boise State in the second round on Sunday, March 22nd.

The takeaway

Purdue's dominant performance over Queens showcased the Boilermakers' ability to overwhelm opponents with their size, physicality, and defensive intensity. If Purdue can maintain this level of play, they will be a tough out for any team in the NCAA Tournament.