Houston Rescues Last-Second Victory Against Purdue in Sweet 16

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The top-seeded Houston Cougars edged past the No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers with a nail-biting 62-60 win in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 28, 2025. With this victory, Houston advanced to the Elite Eight where they will face No. 2 Tennessee.

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson‘s team showcased a masterful inbounds play in the closing moments of the game. After Purdue tied the score at 60 with a game-tying three-pointer from Camden Heide, Houston executed a perfectly drawn play for their guard, Milos Uzan, who scored a layup just before the buzzer.

“Great execution at a time we needed that,” Sampson said. “You never know when you’re going to need it.” Uzan was pivotal, scoring 22 points and helping the Cougars regain control in a game that saw them falter in the final minutes.

Early in the game, Houston gained momentum after a dominating first-round performance against Cincinnati and a narrow win in the Round of 32 against Gonzaga. The Cougars started strong, outpacing Purdue in the first half but struggled late, relinquishing a 10-point lead. They only managed one basket in the final eight minutes.

Purdue’s strong defense, led by the Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith, who contributed seven points and 15 assists, kept the game competitive throughout. Smith’s assists were crucial for Purdue, which has shown resilience despite entering March Madness with six losses in their last nine games.

“I thought we fought really hard and we dug down defensively to get those stops to come back,” Smith said. “We did everything we could, and we just had a little miscommunication at the end, and they converted.”

Houston’s J'Wan Roberts added significant contributions by scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Despite leading scorer L.J. Cryer’s off night (five points on 2-of-13 shooting), the Cougars maintained their poise at critical moments.

The victory also marked a redemption for Houston, who faced an early exit in the Sweet 16 last year as a top seed. They will head into the Elite Eight riding a nation-leading 16-game winning streak, having not lost since February.

As the Final Four looms ahead, Houston’s execution under pressure showcases their championship potential. The matchup against Tennessee is anticipated to be a hard-fought contest as both teams vie for a place in the Final Four.

Houston’s next game will take place on March 30, and fans are eager to see if the Cougars can continue their remarkable tournament run.