With about seven minutes left in the second half, Zach Edey made history by breaking Rick Mount’s school record of 2,323 career points.
In Minneapolis, a thrilling moment unfolded as Max Klesmit scored a runner in the lane with only 4.8 seconds left in overtime. This crucial shot led Wisconsin to a narrow 76-75 victory over Purdue, the top-seed of the Big Ten Tournament, securing their place in the conference championship game.
Klesmit’s decisive play came after his teammate, Chucky Hepburn, pushed the game into overtime with a layup at the buzzer in regulation.
Hepburn shone brightly, scoring 22 points. AJ Storr contributed significantly with 20 points, and Klesmit rounded off with 12 points, alongside five assists and five rebounds, for the fifth-seeded Wisconsin team, which now boasts a 22-12 record.
Zach Edey, the standout for No. 3 Purdue (29-4), dominated with 28 points and 11 rebounds, marking him as the sole Boilermaker to hit double digits in scoring.
Edey’s achievement of surpassing Rick Mount’s school record, setting a new mark at 2,339 career points, was a highlight. Despite facing foul trouble in the first half and missing a key free throw late in regulation, Edey excelled in overtime, making eight consecutive free throws and finishing 14 for 19 from the line.
Purdue aimed to match Michigan State’s record by winning both the outright regular season title and the conference tournament in consecutive years, a feat only achieved by Michigan State in 1999 and 2000.
In a nail-biting overtime, with Wisconsin trailing by a point and less than 30 seconds on the clock, Hepburn drew an offensive foul on Braden Smith. This gave Wisconsin possession with 21.3 seconds remaining. Klesmit then made the game-winning shot, which after hitting the rim, bounced up and fell through the net.
Lance Jones of Purdue missed a desperate attempt from 35 feet as the clock ran out, marking Wisconsin’s first victory against Purdue in three attempts this season.
The game had a tense start when Edey and Steven Crowl of Wisconsin clashed, leading to a technical foul for both players after Edey caught Crowl with an elbow.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin is set to face the winner of the semifinal between Illinois and Nebraska in the conference championship. The Badgers have a split record with Nebraska and a loss to Illinois from earlier this season.
Purdue awaits its placement in the NCAA Tournament, with selections happening on Sunday.