Redemption was the soup du jour for at least two programs after the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament. The Purdue Boilermakers (30-4, 18-4 Big Ten) and the Utah State Aggies (28-6, 15-5 MWC) collectively breathed a sigh of relief as they each won their first-round matchups after both lost in 2023. Both advanced to face each other in the second round, with Purdue a double-digit favorite.
The top-seeded Boilermakers notched their 30th win with a 78-50 victory in the first round over the Grambling State Tigers. It was a bounce-back for Purdue after the Boilermakers lost in the first round to Fairleigh Dickinson last year as just the second No. 1 seed in the men’s NCAA Tournament to lose to a No. 16.
A rocky first half gave way to a commanding performance after halftime for Purdue. The Tigers cut the Boilermakers’ 29-19 lead to four in the waning minutes of the first half before a three and a layup from Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer got them back on track.
After a 36-27 advantage at the break, Purdue started the second half on a 16-6 run and never looked back. Zach Edey was dominant for the Boilermakers, using his size to impose his will for 30 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks.
No. 8 seed Utah State ended a 10-game losing skid in the first round with an 88-72 win over No. 9 seed TCU. It was the first time the Aggies won in the first round since 2001, with opening-day exits in four of the last six tournaments.
Utah State trailed for most of the first half before taking a 37-35 lead with 3:22 left. The Aggies’ lead swelled to as high as 18 in the second half as they earned the largest Tournament victory in program history. Senior guard Ian Martinez led the Aggies with 21 points, while sophomore center Isaac Johnson added 19 points and four blocks.
What: Midwest Region, Second Round
Tipoff time: 2:40 p.m. ET Sunday
TV: CBS
Location: Indianapolis
Purdue vs. Utah State odds
Odds are from BetMGM and update live. Find the best ticket deals on StubHub to see your favorite team.
Expert picks
Model projection: Purdue by 12, total 149
Players to watch
Purdue
- Zach Edey, senior center, Big Ten Player of the Year
Utah State
- Great Osobor, junior forward, MWC Player of the Year
More NCAA men’s basketball tournament coverage
(Photo of Braden Smith: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
