ST. LOUIS — What a story it was for first-year head coach Jai Lucas and the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball Team.

That special story came to an end Sunday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, as No. 7 seed Miami (26-9) fell 79-69 to No. 2 seed Purdue (29-8) in the West Region second round.

The two teams traded punches throughout the first half, with the Hurricanes jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead.

Purdue took a seven-point lead, its largest of the half.

Miami responded with a brief surge and led by as many as seven, but the Boilermakers would not go away.

Led by forward Malik Reneau, who finished with 16 points, freshman Shelton Henderson’s 18 points and Tre Donaldson’s playmaking, Miami took a two-point lead into the locker room.

The second half saw the veteran presence of senior guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith flip the game in Purdue’s favor.

Loyer finished with 24 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range, and Smith added 12 points, going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

While the Hurricanes’ season comes to an end, Purdue will face No. 11 seed Texas in the Sweet 16, with the date and time to be announced.

This will be the Boilermakers’ third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.