Purdue Advances to Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, Defeating Nebraska

In a decisive quarterfinal matchup of the Big Ten Conference Tournament, the No. 7 seed Purdue Boilermakers defeated the No. 2 seed Nebraska Cornhuskers 74-58 at the United Center in Chicago on March 13, 2026. This victory propelled Purdue (25-8) into the semifinals, while Nebraska (26-6) faced an early exit from the tournament.

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Purdue established control early, jumping to a 13-3 lead within the first four minutes. The Boilermakers maintained their advantage throughout the game, leading by as much as 18 points in the second half. Nebraska managed to cut the deficit to eight points with 8:24 remaining, but Purdue responded with a 14-2 run to secure the win.

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The Boilermakers shot 44.8% from the field, including 10-of-31 from three-point range, while Nebraska struggled at 39.3% overall and 10-of-31 from beyond the arc. Purdue dominated the boards, out-rebounding Nebraska 36-28 and converting 19 second-chance points compared to Nebraska's eight.

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Fletcher Loyer led all scorers with 19 points for Purdue, while Pryce Sandfort was the top scorer for Nebraska with 15 points. Rienk Mast contributed 11 points for the Huskers, who faced challenges with turnovers, committing ten compared to Purdue's nine.

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Nebraska's loss marks their second defeat to Purdue this season, having previously lost 80-77 in overtime during a regular-season matchup. The Huskers now await their NCAA Tournament seeding, with projections indicating they may secure a No. 3 seed, likely playing in Oklahoma City.

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Head coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in rebounding and turnover management. "That game came down to points off turnovers and second-chance points," he stated postgame. "We’ve got to find a way to put two halves together if we want any chance of advancing here starting next week."

Daily Nebraskan

With this victory, Purdue advances to face either Michigan State or UCLA in the semifinals. The Boilermakers' ability to capitalize on Nebraska's turnovers—scoring 17 points off eight first-half turnovers—was a critical factor in their success. Coach Matt Painter emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum as they head into the next round.

Indianapolis Star

• “It’s a good learning opportunity for our guys, and we’ll build off of this one,” — Fred Hoiberg, Head Coach, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Daily Nebraskan

• “The Boilermakers played like a team that wanted it more in every sense, dominating the game on both ends with better effort and execution.” — Analysis from various sources

Nebraska Hoops Big Ten Tournament Game Day: Purdue

Nebraska will learn its NCAA Tournament seed and first-round destination during the Selection Show on March 15, 2026. Meanwhile, Purdue will look to continue its momentum in the semifinals, aiming for a strong performance to enhance their postseason prospects.

USA Today