Purdue Defeats Memphis, Set for Title Clash with Texas Tech

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — No. 1 Purdue secured an 80-71 victory over Memphis on Thursday night, advancing to the title game of the Baha Mar Championship.

Fletcher Loyer led the Boilermakers with 20 points while teammate CJ Cox added 18 points, each sinking four 3-pointers. Purdue improved to 5-0 with the win. Trey Kaufman-Renn contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out after 27 minutes. Braden Smith, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, dished out 11 assists.

Despite the strong offensive showing from Purdue, Memphis kept the game competitive. Dug McDaniel paced the Tigers with 18 points, six assists, and six rebounds, while Zach Davis added 11 points. The match featured nine lead changes and six ties.

With 7:54 left in the game, momentum shifted when Memphis forward Aaron Bradshaw fouled out after receiving a technical foul. Loyer capitalized by making two technical free throws, igniting a 17-5 run for Purdue to secure the win.

Purdue shot better than 50% from the field for the game, overcoming Memphis’s solid recent performances against top-tier teams. However, Memphis struggled with accuracy from beyond the arc, hitting only 4 of 19 three-point attempts (21%).

The Boilermakers will now face the winner of the Texas Tech vs. Wake Forest game on Friday night.