Boiling hot Oscar Cluff leads Purdue to Big 10 title

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Purdue Boilermakers 80 def. Michigan Wolverines 72 (Final)

Big Ten Tournament Final – United Center, Chicago

Senior Australian centre Oscar Cluff delivered a decisive interior performance as No. 18 Purdue defeated No. 3 Michigan to claim the 2026 Big Ten Tournament championship.

Purdue matched Michigan at 38–38 by halftime before controlling the second half behind efficient pick-and-roll execution and strong inside scoring. The Boilermakers shot 53% from the field and generated consistent scoring runs to hold off the Wolverines’ late pressure.

Cluff was dominant in the paint, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line, adding five rebounds, one assist and one block in 25 minutes. His physical presence helped Purdue stabilise possession flow during key stretches as the Boilermakers built a double-digit advantage midway through the second half.

Trey Kaufman-Renn added 20 points, while Braden Smith controlled tempo with 14 points and 11 assists. Fletcher Loyer contributed 14 points and three made threes to maintain offensive spacing.

Michigan stayed within striking distance through Yaxel Lendeborg’s 20 points and Aday Mara’s interior activity, but struggled to contain Purdue’s second-half efficiency.

The result secured Purdue’s first Big Ten Tournament title since 2023 and strengthened its NCAA Tournament seeding outlook.

Oscar Cluff – Senior, Centre, Purdue Boilermakers (Sunshine Coast, QLD)

• 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block │ FG 7–11 │ FT 7–11 │ 25 minutes