Cincinnati eliminates Purdue in OT, 66-65
Troy Caupain had 10 points, including a bucket at the buzzer to force overtime, as the Bearcats edged the Boilermakers, 66-65, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Louisville, Ky.
Farad Cobb led eighth-seeded Cincinnati (23-10) with 14 points and Coreontae DeBerry had a career-high 13 points as the Bearcats advanced to play either top-seeded Kentucky or No. 16 Hampton in the round of 32 on Saturday. Leading scorer Octavius Ellis (seven points, three rebounds, one block) was ejected early in the second half.
A.J. Hammons led ninth-seeded Purdue (21-13) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Vince Edwards added 14 points and a career-high seven assists as the Boilermakers outrebounded Cincinnati 50-39.
Caupain got a runner to spin around the rim and drop at the buzzer to send the game to overtime after Purdue’s Jon Octeus missed the front of a one-and-one and then split two free throws in the final 30 seconds. Cobb’s layup with 30 seconds left in the extra period gave the Bearcats a three-point lead and the Boilermakers – who went 4-of-26 from the arc – missed several chances in the final seconds.
Purdue led 29-26 at halftime and the game remained tight despite Ellis getting ejected with 16:22 left after throwing a forearm into Hammons’ neck before a blockout. Edwards and Dakota Mathias hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a five-point advantage with 1:33 to go but Cincinnati battled back on Kevin Johnson’s quick 3-pointer and Caupain’s three-point play after a Purdue turnover to cut the lead to 56-55 with 39 seconds left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ellis, who has been ejected three time this season, will be eligible for Saturday’s game. … Purdue lost an opening-round game for the first time since 1993. … The Bearcats have held 32 of 33 opponents to fewer than 70 points.
