Purdue’s Zach Edey looks for a pass under the basket as Utah State’s Kalifa Sakho defends during the second half of a second-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Indianapolis. Purdue’s Zach Edey celebrates after scoring during the first half of a second-round college basketball game against Utah State in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Indianapolis.
Purdue also set a school record for most points in a March Madness game. Next up is fifth-seeded Gonzaga in the Midwest Region semifinals in Detroit. Great Osodor, the Mountain West Player of the Year, had 14 points and six rebounds for Utah State. The Aggies were outrebounded 49-26, and they headed home still in search of the program’s first regional semifinal since 1970.
Purdue’s career scoring and rebounding leader looks as if he’s on a mission to add to his legacy following last year’s embarrassing first-round exit at the hands of 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson. Another win would put Purdue in its first Elite Eight since 2019, when it lost in overtime to eventual national champ Virginia — one year after the Cavaliers became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed, UMBC.