Purdue vs Texas basketball highlights: Boilermakers edge Longhorns in Sweet 16 Texas' dream of advancing from the First Four to the Final Four ended in heartbreak, as Purdue secured a dramatic 79-77 victory over the Longhorns in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 26. The Boilermakers’ win, decided by a last-second tip-in from Trey Kaufman-Renn, propelled them to the Elite Eight, where they will face the winner of Arizona and Arkansas. Kaufman-Renn, who finished with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds, delivered the game-winning play with 0.7 seconds remaining. He tipped in a missed layup by Braden Smith, breaking a 78-78 tie. The Boilermakers’ victory marked their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in five seasons, following a late-season slump that saw them go 2-4 in their final regular-season games. Coach Matt Painter’s team has since won seven consecutive games, including a Big Ten tournament title. Texas, led by Tramon Mark’s 29 points, struggled to contain Purdue’s dynamic offense. Mark, who made 11 of 15 shots despite an injured ankle, carried the Longhorns for much of the game. However, Purdue’s combination of Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer, who added 18 points, proved too much. The Boilermakers’ ability to capitalize on turnovers and defensive stops was critical, particularly in the final minutes. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading leads throughout. At the final media timeout of regulation, Purdue and Texas were tied at 70 with 3:56 remaining. Texas held a narrow 65-63 lead in the third quarter, but Purdue’s relentless scoring and clutch plays in the final minutes shifted momentum. Injuries also played a role in the outcome. Texas’ Jordan Pope, who had been listed as questionable due to an ankle injury from their second-round win over Gonzaga, was on the court but not among the starters.#texas #purdue #braden_smith #tramon_mark #trey_kaufmanrenn
Gonzaga's NCAA Tournament Run Ends with Late-Game Collapse Against Texas Gonzaga’s 2025-26 season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion as the Bulldogs fell to Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 74-68. The loss marked the second consecutive year the team failed to reach the Sweet 16, reigniting frustrations over recurring struggles in high-stakes games. For fans, the final moments of the contest—particularly a late three-pointer by Texas—will linger as a painful reminder of how the Zags have repeatedly let opportunities slip away. The game’s narrative unfolded in familiar fashion for Gonzaga. Early in the contest, the Bulldogs controlled the tempo, forcing Texas into contested shots and limiting the Longhorns’ rhythm. The Zags’ offense, led by Graham Ike, showed promise, with Ike scoring efficiently and distributing the ball effectively. Gonzaga built an eight-point lead by halftime, despite a slow start from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-for-7 from three. However, the team’s struggles persisted, with defensive lapses and missed opportunities threatening their momentum. Texas, meanwhile, found its rhythm in the second half. The Longhorns adjusted their strategy, spreading the floor and exploiting Gonzaga’s switching defense to create open looks. A 6-for-6 scoring surge in the final minutes, capped by Jordan Pope’s three-pointer, shifted the momentum decisively in Texas’ favor. Gonzaga’s perimeter defense, a recurring weakness, faltered as the Longhorns capitalized on open shots, while the Bulldogs’ own shooting woes—only four makes from three-point range—exacerbated their woes. Despite individual efforts from key players, Gonzaga’s team performance fell short.#texas #tramon_mark #gonzaga #graham_ike #jordan_pope
BYU's AJ Dybantsa's first — and only? — trip to the NCAA tournament ends in a first-round upset loss to Texas The star BYU freshman poured in 35 points in a 79-71 first-round loss to No. 11 Texas, but the No. 6 Cougars’ lack of depth proved costly in the West region matchup. Dybantsa, a projected top-10 NBA draft pick, dominated the game, yet BYU’s roster struggled to match Texas’ depth and size. The Cougars’ bench contributed zero points, as Texas’ Matas Vokietaitis controlled the paint with 23 points and 16 rebounds. Dybantsa’s performance highlighted his potential, as he became the first freshman since Steph Curry in 2007 to score 30+ points in his NCAA tournament debut. He shot 11-of-25 from the field and went 12-of-12 at the free-throw line. However, BYU’s reliance on Dybantsa and Robert Wright III left the team vulnerable. Wright added 14 points, but the rest of the roster combined for just seven field goal attempts. The Cougars were 4-of-22 from beyond the arc, missing key guard Richie Saunders, who was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury. Texas’ balanced attack, with four players scoring in double figures, proved too much for BYU. Tramon Mark led the way with 19 points, while Dailyn Swain and Jordan Pope added 14 and 11 respectively. Pope’s 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining cut BYU’s deficit to four, but the Cougars couldn’t sustain the momentum. A missed opportunity to close the gap came after Aleksej Kostic’s 3-pointer, followed by a turnover from Dybantsa. BYU’s struggles began earlier in the season. Despite starting 16-1, the Cougars lost five of six games in conference play. Saunders’ injury in February exacerbated the team’s issues, forcing Dybantsa to take at least 20 shots in seven of BYU’s last nine games. The team went 4-5 in that span, underscoring the challenges of relying on a single player.#texas #aj_dybantsa #byu #matas_vokietaitis #tramon_mark
