Valparaiso just handed Purdue a stunning 83-80 loss in double overtime, sealed by a corner 3-pointer from Justus McNair as time expired. This unreal upset sends the Boilermakers to their first 0-2 start since the 1976-77 season. Seriously, let that sink in.
Unbelievable Finishes and Crushed Hopes
Friday night in West Lafayette was pure chaos, and for Purdue fans, it was the worst kind. Valpo, who came into the game as massive 19.5-point underdogs, somehow pulled off the impossible. The Boilermakers actually led by as many as 15 points in the first half! What was going on? They had the game in hand, and then watched it slip away. It got even wilder when Valpo guard Rakim Chaney hit a 3-pointer right at the buzzer to tie the game at 70, forcing it into double overtime. Then, to cap off the insanity, McNair delivered the dagger in 2OT, leaving Purdue absolutely stunned. This loss wasn’t just any loss either; it snapped Purdue’s 23-game home winning streak in November. Even more, it’s their first defeat against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent at Mackey Arena since 1978, a streak that even survived a Larry Bird-led Indiana State team back in the day.
An Early Season Crisis for the Boilermakers
This 0-2 start isn’t just bad, it’s historically bad for Purdue. Their season is already in question, and it’s only November. They’re clearly in the middle of a huge transition after Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer all left the program. That trio was key, helping Purdue reach the Elite Eight in their final season together. Losing that much experience was always going to be tough, but nobody expected this kind of collapse so early. Remember, Kaufman-Renn is now playing his sixth season of college basketball with Kansas. This Valpo shocker also follows a trend we saw on opening night, with Oklahoma losing to East Texas A&M as an even bigger 28.5-point favorite. For Purdue, though, being 0-2 with a lead like that just makes it sting even more. They’ve got to figure things out, and fast, before this season spirals completely out of control.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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