The Stage was set in Glendale, Arizona. The two best teams were ready to square off on this Monday night for the National Championship. The Purdue Boilermakers finally made to the big game to take on the Connecticut Huskies the defending National Champs.
Purdue was steady in the game from the start going back and forth with UConn. Zach Edey had a quick 11 points with about 9 minutes to go in the first half and looked good starting 7 of 9 shooting for the night in the first half. The game was tied at 23 with 6:30 to go in the half. With about 3:49 left in the half UConn was on a 9-2 run to take a 30-25 lead. Purdue fought back with5 points in a row to cut the UConn lead down to two with 2:15 to go in the half. The half time score is 36-30.
The second half starts slow for Purdue with Zack Edey missing 10 shots in a row not scoring in 11 minutes until he hits a free throw with 14 minutes to go in the game Purdue was down 47-36 because of the slow second half start. Purdue looked like they were running in mud and fatigue of playing so many minutes the past 4 games is starting to set in on Edey. Purdue went down by 14 after going on a four-minute scoring drought with 8:30 minutes to go.
UConn out rebounded Purdue, came at Purdue in waves, and was just too strong and disciplined to lose tonight. Dan Hurley had UConn ready to repeat and there was nothing Purdue can do to stop the Huskies. UConn repeats as Champs winning convincingly 75-60. Zack Edey finished the game, his final college game, with 37 points and 10 rebounds for Purdue. Tristen Newton scored 20 points with 5 rebounds and 7 assists for UConn.
On this day April 8,2024 we in the Indianapolis area saw a Total Eclipse and a great Boilermaker team conclude a great run. We will always remember the Eclipse, this great Boilermaker team and the once in a lifetime player Zack Edey.
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