Purdue Boilermakers Advance to March Madness Second Round The No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers secured their place in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament after defeating No. 15 Queens Royals by a score of 104-71 in the first round. The game, held in St. Louis on Friday night, saw Purdue dominate from the outset, building a 45-33 lead at halftime. Purdue guard Braden Smith made history by becoming the all-time leader in career assists in men’s Division I basketball during the contest. The Boilermakers’ commanding performance extended to a final margin of 33 points, showcasing their strength and depth. With the victory, Purdue will face No. 7 Miami in the Round of 32 on Sunday, March 22. The matchup is set to take place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, where the Boilermakers will aim to continue their strong run in the tournament. Purdue’s path to the second round was marked by their No. 2 seed in the West regional, a position that reflects their strong season performance. The team’s next challenge will be against the Hurricanes, who advanced by defeating No. 10 Missouri in their opening game. The 2026 March Madness tournament kicked off on March 17 with the First Four, and the first two rounds will span from March 19 to March 22. The tournament will conclude with the Final Four on April 4 and the National Championship game on April 6. For fans hoping to attend the Purdue-Miami matchup, the Enterprise Center will host the Round of 32 game. While limited tickets remain for the first weekend of the tournament, the Boilermakers’ next game is a key event in the bracket. Purdue’s schedule for the tournament includes their Round of 32 game against Miami, with the exact tip-off time yet to be announced. If the Boilermakers advance further, they would face the Sweet 16 in San Jose, Calif.#miami #braden_smith #enterprise_center #purdue_boilermakers #queens_royals
