Purdue survives Iowa State after coughing up 19-point lead
Deja Purdue was on the horizon, but after coughing up a 19-point lead in the second half, the Boilermakers fought back to down Iowa State 80-76 on Saturday and punch a ticket to the Sweet 16.
Last year, Purdue choked away a 13-point lead in the final 3:33 of regulation against Little Rock in Round 1, before falling to the Trojans in double-overtime.
Not this time, though.
Monte Morris and Deonte Burton did all they could to bring the Cyclones back, and Iowa State momentarily took the lead, but it didn't last long.
Purdue fed Caleb Swanigan in the post in crunch time, and the big man responded with several clutch buckets. "Biggie" finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and added seven assists for good measure.
Swanigan also grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw in the dying seconds with the Boilermakers up by a pair, which essentially put the game on ice.
Notorious. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/8ADlf3aoui
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 19, 2017
The Boilermakers are now bound for the Sweet 16 for the first time in seven years. There, they'll meet either No. 1 Kansas or No. 9 Michigan State.
Iowa State heads home set to undergo a major roster overhaul between now and next season, as both Morris and Burton, as well as Naz Mitrou-Long, are set to graduate the program.