Purdue vs. Tennessee results, highlights: Zach Edey’s career-high 40 points carries Boilermakers to Final Four

By | March 31, 2024
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Thanks to the best game of Zach Edey’s dominant college basketball career, Purdue is dancing to the Final Four.

The Boilermakers finally got over the hump, taking down Tennessee behind a career-high 40 points and 16 rebounds from Edey. He played all but 33 seconds in the contest, wearing down the Volunteers’ frontcourt for 39 minutes.

It was an epic battle between the game’s two All-Americans, as Tennessee forward Dalton Knecht kept his team in the fight with 37 points. Edey was too much to handle, though, carrying Purdue to its first Final Four in 44 years.

If you missed any of the action from the instant classic Elite Eight game, The Sporting News had you covered with live updates, highlights and more below.

STREAM: Watch Purdue vs. Tennessee live with Paramount+

Purdue vs. Tennessee final score

  1 2 F
Purdue 36 36 72
Tennessee 34 32 66

Purdue vs. Tennessee results, highlights from 2024 March Madness

(All times Eastern)

Final: Purdue 71, Tennessee 64

4:40 p.m.: Purdue holds on to win! It is going to its first Final Four in 44 years behind a career-high 40 points and 16 rebounds from Zach Edey! Dalton Knecht put up a great fight for Tennessee, exploding for 37 points.

What a hard-fought battle between two teams trying to shake their history of March Madness shortcomings.

4:36 p.m.: Zach Edey swats Dalton Knecht at the rim! That’s going to do it for Purdue, leading 71-64 with 21 seconds to go.

4:34 p.m.: Three missed free throws by Zach Edey have left the door open for Tennessee. Purdue leads 69-64 with 40 seconds remaining.

4:31 p.m.: Zach Edey ties his career-high with 38 points! The star center has been undeniable today.

4:28 p.m.: Lance Jones with a massive 3-pointer! The timely triple puts Purdue up 66-60 with 2:26 remaining. Zach Edey has been masterful with 36 points and 16 rebounds.

4:19 p.m.: Tennessee’s Tobe Awaka fouled out. That leaves Jonas Aidoo and J.P. Estrella as the Volunteers’ only options to check Zach Edey.

4:16 p.m.: Zach Edey and Dalton Knecht are putting on a show with 31 points apiece. Knecht nailed a game-tying 3-pointer, then Edey immediately answered with an easy layup in the post. One possession later, Purdue and Tennessee are tied at 85 with 4:42 remaining.

4:05 p.m.: Tennessee is not going down easy. The Volunteers are on a 7-0 run after a 3-pointer from Jordan Gainey and a pair of steals and transition layups for Dalton Knecht. Tennessee trails by one, 54-53, with 8:45 to play.

3:57 p.m.: Zach Edey is starting to wear down Tennessee’s frontcourt. Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka have taken turns on the assignment and both forwards are in foul trouble with three and four personals, respectively. Purdue is clinging on to a slim lead, 51-46, at the under-12 media timeout.

3:47 p.m.: Everytime Tennessee gains momentum, Purdue halts it. The Boilermakers countered with a Fletcher Loyer triple to retake the lead. Purdue is up 44-40 at the under-16 media timeout.

3:42 p.m.: Halftime did not cool off Dalton Knecht. The Tennessee star knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second half, then ran the lane in transition for an alley-oop layup. The Volunteers are back in front, 39-38, one minute into the second half.

End of first half: Purdue 36, Tennessee 34

3:17 p.m.: Purdue ends the first half on a 15-2 run to take a two-point lead going into the break. The Boilermakers weathered Dalton Knecht’s storm, who has 18 points with four triples.

Purdue got back to basics, dumping the ball into Zach Edey and letting the soon-to-be two-time National Player of the Year go to work. Edey already has a double-double with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds.

3:08 p.m.: Purdue retakes the lead! Dalton Knecht’s hot streak gave Tennessee an 11-point lead and the Boilermakers wiped it away instantly. The Volunteers haven’t scored since as Purdue ripped off a 12-0 run to take a 33-32 lead with two minutes left in the half.

3:03 p.m.: Purdue responds with a run of its own! After taking a timeout to cool off Dalton Knecht’s hot streak, the Boilermakers came back with three stops and three easy layups. Tennessee still leads 32-27 at the under-4 media timeout.

2:56 p.m.: Dalton Knecht is taking over this game. The sharpshooter is blistering hot, burying his first four 3-point attempts. He’s up to a game-high 16 points to give Tennessee a 32-21 lead with 5:11 to go.

2:49 p.m.: Purdue held Tennessee scoreless for five minutes but the lid came off the rim for the Volunteers. Josiah-Jordan James and Zakai Zeigler buried consecutive triples, giving Tennessee a 25-21 lead with 6:10 remaining in the half.

2:40 p.m.: We’re in for a battle in this one, folks. Tennessee leads Purdue 17-14 at the under-12 media timeout. The Boilermakers are off to an uncharacteristic start from 3-point range, missing all six of their attempts so far. Purdue was the most efficient 3-point shooting team in the country this season.

2:34 p.m.: Here comes Dalton Knecht! The SEC Player of the Year is off to a scorching start, up to 10 points after knocking down his first two 3-point attempts. Tennessee leads Purdue 17-12 with 13:11 to play in the first half.

2:32 p.m.: Purdue leads Tennessee 10-9 at the under-16 media timeout.

2:27 p.m.: Zach Edey is putting pressure on Tennessee’s defense already. He only has four points, but the Volunteers have four team fouls in the first five minutes. Edey has worn down every frontcourt he has faced this tournament. He’s looking to do the same today.

Pregame

2:20 p.m.: Purdue will start Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, Lance Jones, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Zach Edey.

2:20 p.m.: Tennessee will start Zakai Zeigler, Dalton Knecht, Jahmai Mashack, Josiah-Jordan James and Jonas Aidoo.

12:25 p.m.: Purdue and Tennessee’s social media teams delivered hype videos to get you ready for the monumental Elite Eight showdown for both programs.

Purdue vs. Tennessee start time

  • Date: Sunday, March 31
  • Time: 2:20 p.m. ET

Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup between Purdue and Tennessee is set to tip off at 2:20 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

How to watch Purdue vs. Tennessee

Fans can watch No. 1 Purdue versus No. 2 Tennessee on CBS on Sunday at 2:20 p.m. ET. For cord-cutters, you can stream the game on Paramount+.

NCAA Tournament schedule 2024

Below is the schedule for Sunday’s Elite Eight games:

Game Time (ET) TV/Livestream
No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 2 Tennessee 2:20 p.m. CBS/Paramount+
No. 4 Duke vs. No. 11 NC State 5:05 p.m. CBS/Paramount+

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