NC State Wolfpack v. #13 Purdue Boilermakers | 11/28/2024 | Rady’s Children Invitational

Kaufman-Renn Dominates as No. 13 Purdue Tops NC State 71-61 🏀🔥

San Diego, CA – Trey Kaufman-Renn took over in the second half, scoring 15 of his game-high 22 points to lead No. 13 Purdue to a 71-61 victory over NC State in the opening round of the Rady Children’s Invitational. The Boilermakers (6-1) controlled the boards and the pace, pulling away late to secure a spot in Sunday’s championship game.

Key Performances:

Trey Kaufman-Renn: 22 points, 8 rebounds, and dominant inside play in the second half.
Camden Heide: Stepped up with 15 points, including a clutch corner three-pointer to give Purdue its largest lead at 71-56.
Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer added 11 and 10 points, respectively, to round out a balanced scoring attack.
For NC State (5-1), Jayden Taylor led with 15 points, while Brandon Huntley-Hatfield chipped in 13. Despite staying close in the first half, the Wolfpack couldn’t slow Kaufman-Renn’s dominance in the paint after the break.

Key Moments:

Second-Half Surge: Kaufman-Renn scored Purdue’s first six points of the second half, turning a narrow 33-32 halftime lead into a 39-34 advantage within the opening two minutes. His quick burst set the tone for Purdue’s second-half control.
Clutch Rebounding: Purdue outrebounded NC State 38-28, with Kaufman-Renn’s 8 boards leading the way. This physical edge kept NC State at bay during key stretches.
Takeaways:

Purdue’s Thanksgiving Dominance: The Boilermakers continue their holiday success, aiming for a fourth straight Thanksgiving week tournament title after previous wins in the Maui Invitational and Phil Knight Legacy tournaments.
NC State’s Resilience: The Wolfpack hung tough in the first half but struggled to contain Purdue’s physicality and second-half adjustments.

#BoilerUp 🚂🔥 #CollegeBasketball 🏀✨ #PurdueBasketball #NCAABasketball