Wisconsin tops Purdue in OT thriller, makes Big Ten final

Wisconsin narrowly defeated No. 3 Purdue 76-75 in overtime Saturday, eliminating the top-seeded Boilermakers from the Big Ten Tournament and complicating their hopes of attaining the overall No. 1 seed for March Madness.

Neither team led by more than six points in the highly contested affair, with the two conference foes going back and forth all afternoon.

Wisconsin sent the game to an extra frame after Chucky Hepburn drove to the rim for a layup with 7-foot-4 Purdue superstar Zach Edey guarding the inbound pass.

The Badgers remained clutch in the extra frame, drawing an offensive foul on Purdue before hitting a game-winner with under five seconds to play, courtesy of Max Klesmit. Purdue's Lance Jones couldn't answer with a heave at the buzzer.

Hepburn led the way for the Badgers with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and four assists. Fellow backcourt mate AJ Storr added 20 of his own but on an inefficient 23 shots.

Meanwhile, Edey paced the Boilermakers with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. No other Purdue player scored in double figures, with the starting backcourt of Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Jones combining to shoot 8 of 24 from the floor.

Because of Edey's interior dominance, Purdue took 32 free throws while Wisconsin had nine. However, the Badgers countered with defensive pressure, forcing 16 turnovers and winning the points-off-turnovers battle 15-0.