The Purdue Boilermakers had a thrilling victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in the Maui Invitational on Wednesday night. Purdue was led by freshman guard Jaden Loyer who scored 27 points, including a clutch three-pointer with just seconds remaining to seal the win. The Boilermakers were able to overcome a late rally from the Volunteers to secure the 71-67 victory.
The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than six points at any point in the second half. Purdue was able to get a few stops late in the game to keep Tennessee from taking the lead, and Loyer’s three-pointer with just seconds remaining was the difference maker. Loyer finished the game with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also had four rebounds and two assists in the victory.
The Boilermakers were also aided by a strong performance from guard Sasha Stefanovic, who scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Stefanovic also had four assists and two steals in the win. Purdue also got a boost from forward Trevion Williams, who had 12 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
The Volunteers were led by guard Santiago Vescovi, who scored 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting. He also had five rebounds and four assists in the loss. Forward Yves Pons had 13 points and seven rebounds for Tennessee, while forward John Fulkerson added 10 points and five rebounds in the defeat.
The Boilermakers will now face off against the winner of the Dayton/Virginia Tech matchup in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational. Purdue will look to continue their strong play and build on their impressive win over Tennessee.
