Purdue Secures Big Ten Title, Michigan Falls Short

0:00On March 15, Purdue grabbed the Big Ten Tournament title with an 80-72 win over Michigan on Sunday. The game stayed close through the first half, tied at 38-a-piece at the break. But the Boerthermakers found their rhythm after half-time, pulling ahead with better shooting and smart plays to seal the victory. Michigan put up a solid fight, led by Yaxal Lindoborgs, 20 points in efficient shooting. A day Mara added 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Neemari Burnett scored 12, including a couple of threes. Point guard Elia Cadoe nearly had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Fans saw Purdue's balance shine through, with Oscar-clough topping the scores at 21 points. Trey Kaufman-Ren dropped 20 on great pick and roll work, and both Fletcher-Loyet and Braden Smith finished with 14 points each. Smith also dished 11 assists for a double-double. Purdue shot over 50% from the field and dominated free throws at 16 of 22. They turned Michigan's turnovers into easy points while keeping their own mistakes low.

1:04Michigan owned the Boards and paint-scoring, but it wasn't enough to match Purdue's edge. Even with the tough loss, Michigan's season stays impressive as the top regular season seed. Purdue's second half surge gives them momentum heading into the Big Dance, capping a strong conference run.