ST. LOUIS — The No. 2-seed Boilermakers claimed not only the crown, but also a spot in the Round of 32 after a 104-71 win against Queens NC on Friday at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Despite the previous week playing four games in four days, the Boilermakers showed out on the court with their strongest defensive and offensive plays, eagerly setting their eyes on the March Madness title in the next few weeks. Both the team as a whole and certain individual players, like senior guard Braden Smith and senior forward Liam Murphy, had remarkable moments on the court
The Boilermakers proved to everyone that they are a talented team, and that the trend of wins with the Big Ten Tournament last week represents the team dynamic they have had this season. Willingly knowing Queen’s competitive defensive and offensive play, the Boilermakers were challenged to play at a strategic level to ensure they kept the Queens trailing far behind. Without a doubt, the Boilermakers put up strong plays in the first half with a 12-point lead, only to nearly triple that by the end of the second half, ending with a 33-point lead. While familiar faces walked onto the court during the first half of the game, Boilermaker fans got to experience a new rotation of players in the second half, revealing the future of what is to come in the 2026-27 season.
At eight minutes into the first half of Friday’s matchup with Queens, Smith claimed his own crown of victory, becoming the NCAA all-time assist leader with 1,077 assists, surpassing Duke’s Bobby Hurley (1990 – 1993) who held the lead with 1,076 assists. Smith kept this momentum going throughout the entirety of the game, ending with eight assists and 26 points.
Senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn continues to prove himself as a powerhouse player for the Boilermakers, totaling 25 points for the Boilermakers. Senior guard Fletcher Loyer also had a good game, totaling 14 points while shooting 4-for-8 from deep.
An unexpected winner of tonight’s game was senior forward Liam Murphy, who played in the last five minutes of the game where he put up his first 3-pointer in a tournament as a Boilermaker. The crowd at The Enterprise Center gave a standing-ovation, celebrating not only Murphy’s playing, but his achievements in his first, and potentially final, year as a Boilermaker. Murphy also contributed to the awe moment of this game, where he hugged players from Queens following the victory, acknowledging that Queen’s journey ended Friday night.
The Boilermakers will return at 12:10 p.m. EST on Sunday at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis to face the No. 7-seed Miami (FL).
The Boilermakers huddle up before the start of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup against the No. 15-seed Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior center Oscar Cluff and Queens NC junior forward Avantae Parker reach for the opening tip-off during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Braden Smith goes in for a shot during the first half of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Smith led the Boilermakers with 26 points.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Fletcher Loyer prepares for a shot during the first half of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Loyer totaled 14 points for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Braden Smith attempts to defend Queens NC sophomore guard Maban Jabriel and senior guard Nasir Mann during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Braden Smith passes the ball to senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn during the first half of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Fletcher Loyer eyes the ball after a Queens NC player goes for a shot during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Freshman guard Omer Mayer attempts to guard Queens NC sophomore guard Yoav Berman during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Mayer and Berman played basketball together in Israel when they were younger.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Sophomore center Daniel Jacobsen attempts to block a shot from Queens NC freshman guard Jordan Watford during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Jacobsen totaled 2 blocks for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior center Oscar Cluff guards Queens NC sophomore guard Yoav Berman during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Cluff totaled 4 blocks for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Sophomore guard C.J. Cox puts up a thumbs up during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn stands at the free-throw line during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. TKR went 1-for-3 at the line.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Fletcher Loyer celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the second half of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Loyer went 4-for-8 from deep.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior forward Liam Murphy attempts to block a shot from Queens NC junior guard Kam Clark during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Murphy totaled 3 points for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Braden Smith dribbles around Queens NC sophomore guard Maban Jabriel during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Sophomore guard Gicarri Harris passes the ball to another Boilermaker during Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Harris totaled one assist for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Redshirt freshman Jack Benter looks to pass the ball during the second half of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Benter totaled two assists for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Sophomore center Daniel Jacobsen dunks the ball during the second half of Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup with Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Jacobsen totaled 4 points for the Boilermakers.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior forward Liam Murphy hugs Queens NC freshman guard Isaiah Henry following Friday’s Round of 64 March Madness matchup at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Boilermakers advance to the Round of 32 after a 104-71 win.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior center Oscar Cluff talks about enjoying the moment of being in the March Madness tournament after Friday’s victory over Queens NC at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer
Senior guard Fletcher Loyer explains that executing transitions and strategic plays is what helped them play well offensively during Friday’s matchup with Queens at The Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Sarah Wiederkehr | Staff Photographer