Purdue Edges Northwestern In Overtime Thriller To Secure Big Ten Title

Purdue Edges Northwestern In Overtime Thriller To Secure Big Ten Title...

Purdue defeated Northwestern 78-76 in overtime Thursday night to clinch the Big Ten regular-season championship. The Boilermakers' victory, fueled by a 24-point performance from All-American center Zach Edey, capped a dramatic comeback after trailing by 12 in the second half.

The game is trending nationally as Purdue (26-5, 15-3 Big Ten) secured its second conference title in three years under coach Matt Painter. Northwestern (21-10, 12-6), seeking its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2017, nearly pulled off the upset behind guard Boo Buie's career-high 32 points.

Thursday's showdown at Mackey Arena drew ESPN's highest college basketball viewership this season outside of Duke-UNC. The game's significance grew after Illinois lost earlier in the week, giving Purdue a chance to clinch outright. Social media erupted over a controversial no-call on Edey's game-winning putback with 0.8 seconds left in OT.

Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters: "We had our chances. That's what makes this one hurt." The Wildcats now face must-win scenarios in next week's Big Ten Tournament to bolster their NCAA resume. Purdue earns the No. 1 seed and a double-bye.

Analysts note the game's ripple effects on March Madness seeding. CBS Sports' Jerry Palm projects Purdue as a 2-seed and Northwestern among the "Last Four In" after the result. The teams could meet again in the Big Ten semifinals March 11 in Indianapolis.

Ticket resale prices for Purdue's next home game against Indiana have doubled since Thursday night. The Boilermakers' last two home games averaged over 14,000 fans - the highest attendance in program history for consecutive contests.