Purdue Defeats NC State in Tournament Opener

Purdue's men's basketball team secured a 71-61 victory over NC State in the opening round of the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego, extending their winning streak against ACC teams to eight games. Trey Kaufman-Renn led Purdue with 22 points and eight rebounds, scoring 15 points in the second half to solidify the win. Camden Heide contributed significantly with 15 points, while Braden Smith added 11 points and six assists. Despite a close first half ending 33-32, Purdue's defense and inside play dominated the second half, particularly when Kaufman-Renn powered the team to a 20-8 advantage in points in the paint. Purdue will face Ole Miss in the championship game, aiming for their fourth consecutive in-season tournament title. NC State struggled with 3-point shooting, managing just 4 of 17 attempts, marking their first loss of the season.