The No. 11 Texas Longhorns saw their remarkable NCAA Tournament run come to an end on Thursday night as Trey Kaufman-Renn’s tip with just 0.7 seconds left gave No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers a 79-77 victory in the Sweet 16 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The Longhorns, who began their tournament journey in the First Four, pushed one of the highest seeds to the limit in a game full of suspense and clutch plays.
In the final moments, Texas appeared to have a chance to tie the game when Dailyn Swain drove for an and-one layup with 11 seconds remaining. He made the free throw to send the score to 77-all. Purdue then moved the ball upcourt, and Braden Smith attempted a layup, but the ball rolled off the rim.
Kaufman-Renn, positioned underneath the basket, tipped the ball home for the winning points. He finished the night with 20 points. Some debate arose on social media over a possible foul during the tip, but the officials did not call one. Purdue celebrated the win while Texas’ season ended in dramatic fashion.
Texas Longhorns’ Cinderella Run Ends in Heartbreaking 79 77 Loss to PurduePurdue and Texas Battle Closely in High-Scoring, Thrilling Sweet 16 Showdown
The game was a back-and-forth battle throughout the 40 minutes. Neither team ever built a large lead. Purdue’s biggest advantage was seven points, and Texas never led by more than four. Both teams shot well, with Texas converting 52 percent of their attempts and Purdue hitting 48 percent. All Purdue starters scored in double figures, led by Fletcher Loyer with 18 points and Braden Smith with 16. Texas relied on Tramon Mark, who scored 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including five three-pointers. Swain also contributed with nine rebounds and five assists.
With the win, Purdue advances to face the winner of the Arkansas and Arizona matchup in the Elite Eight. The Final Four will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. While Texas’s Cinderella story ends here, their tournament performance from the First Four to nearly defeating a No. 2 seed will be remembered as one of the most thrilling underdog runs of the 2026 March Madness.
