Providence, Ri-Trey Kaufman-Renn recorded 22 points and 15 returns to help Purdue beat its sixth Sweet 16 ticket in the last eight NCAA tournaments with a 76-62 victory over McNeese in the second round Midwest Region Action on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded Boilermakers (24-11) never looked back after starting 5-AV-5 and 11-AV-15 from the field on the way to a 45.1 percent shooting performance, including 11 out of 26 from a distance.
Fletcher Loyer (15 points, five assists), Massachusett’s native CJ CO(11 points) and Braden Smith (10 points) also made two digits for Purdue, which dropped double -digit three times during its 2024 National Title Game Run.
The 15 returns were a pile of career for Kaufman-Renn, a unanimous all-big ten selection.
The sincere parks had 17 points and Javohn Garcia had 12 on four 3-points for 12th seeded McNeese (28-7), which went on on Saturday on a 12-match victory.
Purdue made his first five baskets, opposing McNeese’s early three from Quadir Copeland and Garcia in the first 1:58 to build a lead that ballooned to as many as 22 before half time.
After two internal feeds to Kaufman-Renn helped Boilermakers open an early lead, Coxs emphasized and reversed arrangements and a myles Colvin Trey a three-minute, 10-0 run that extended it to 17-6.
Parker knocked down the first of two jumpers who broke a McNeese-point dryer that extended for almost four minutes, but a response saw Smith points five straight Purdue points, including his second triple of half, before a Camden Heide fast break ended up the lead to 27-11 with 9:36 left.
Purdue logged another 9-0 run on Cox’s straight three and six free throw in a row with the 3: 55 mark for the 22-point line. Christian Shumate made two baskets during McNeeses 6-2 driving to close half.
Loyer started Purdue’s second half with a deep 3-pointer with one foot on the center logo, but the lead was extended at the line. Cox made three shots after being fouled on an attempt at Trey before one technically led to five brands from Loyer and Kaufman-Renn and a 25-point lead.
McNeese made a strong pressure thereafter and drove 11-0 over 5:35 which included four Brandon Murray points around a Parker arrangement. Cox continued his best points performance since he had 13 against Wisconsin on February 15 with a right three to stop Cowboy Run.
Colvin set up Kaufman-Renn’s 3-point game inside with 9:49 left, and Boilermakers responded to three McNeese baskets with Treys along the route before McNeese finished on a 13-3 spurt, including two baskets from T’Johnn Brown.
-Joshua Kumins, Media at Field Level
