Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn Delivers Split-Second March Madness Classic

Kaufman-Renn's game-winning tip-in lifts Boilermakers to Elite Eight

Mar. 27, 2026 at 4:42am

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Purdue senior Trey Kaufman-Renn made the game-winning tip-in with less than a second left to lift the Boilermakers to a 79-77 victory over Texas in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Kaufman-Renn, a philosophy major known for his deliberate style of play, timed his jump perfectly to tip in a missed shot by teammate Braden Smith, sending Purdue to the Elite Eight.

Why it matters

Kaufman-Renn's clutch play in the final seconds showcased his ability to make split-second decisions, overcoming his reputation for being a bit slow in the fast-paced game of basketball. The victory also extends Purdue's season, keeping alive the hopes of its veteran core of Kaufman-Renn, Smith, and Fletcher Loyer to reach the Final Four for the first time in their careers.

The details

With the game tied at 77-77 and less than 10 seconds remaining, Purdue's Smith drove hard to the right and missed a layup. Kaufman-Renn, who had established position on the other side of the rim, tipped in the miss with 0.5 seconds left to give Purdue the win. Kaufman-Renn used his size and strength to displace Texas defender Dailyn Swain, allowing him to get the decisive tip-in.

  • Purdue point guard Braden Smith missed a driving layup with less than 10 seconds left, setting up Kaufman-Renn's game-winning tip-in.
  • Kaufman-Renn tipped in the miss with 0.5 seconds remaining to give Purdue a 79-77 victory over Texas.

The players

Trey Kaufman-Renn

A senior philosophy major at Purdue known for his deliberate style of play, Kaufman-Renn made the game-winning tip-in to lift the Boilermakers to the Elite Eight.

Braden Smith

Purdue's starting point guard, Smith missed a driving layup in the final seconds, setting up Kaufman-Renn's heroics.

Fletcher Loyer

A senior guard for Purdue, Loyer helped the Boilermakers get off to a fast start by hitting two early three-pointers.

Dailyn Swain

The Texas defender who was displaced by Kaufman-Renn's size and strength, allowing the Purdue senior to get the game-winning tip-in.

Matt Painter

Purdue's head coach, who has praised his veteran players for their leadership and selflessness in leading the Boilermakers to the Elite Eight.

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What they’re saying

“Coach always says that a lot of times it's not the first shot that goes. It's the tip-in at the end of games. He said that my four years here, so it's kind of cool to actually experience that.”

— Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue Senior

“By playing quicker or smaller, we could switch [a Purdue pick-and-roll] and really defend the drive in a better fashion, because Matas can't really switch. You can't put Matas on Braden Smith on a switch.”

— Sean Miller, Texas Head Coach

“I think [the continuity] benefits us more than anybody in the country. Like, we've played together for four years. We know our strengths and our weaknesses, and we understand what gets each other going. Honestly, I respect these two guys so much.”

— Braden Smith, Purdue Senior

“These guys here, they make your job easy. They'll spoil you.”

— Matt Painter, Purdue Head Coach

What’s next

Purdue will face the winner of the game between UCLA and Gonzaga in the Elite Eight on Saturday, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

The takeaway

Trey Kaufman-Renn's game-winning tip-in showcased his ability to make a split-second play at the most crucial moment, overcoming his reputation for deliberation. The victory extends the careers of Purdue's veteran core, who have now won a school-record 117 games together and are one win away from reaching the Final Four for the first time.