Purdue FW defeats Cleveland St 74-71

Purdue FW Edges Cleveland St in Thrilling Comeback Victory

In a dramatic turn of events, the Purdue FW Boilermakers rallied from an 11-point deficit with just over 10 minutes remaining to secure a 74-71 victory over the visiting Cleveland St Vikings at Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday night.

The home team's comeback was sparked by Corey Hadnot II, who poured in 20 points and grabbed five rebounds, while also dishing out six assists. Hadnot II's performance capped off an impressive outing that saw him score or assist on 21 of Purdue FW's 32 field goals.

Trailing 32-43 at halftime, the Boilermakers regrouped and found their footing in the second half, thanks in large part to the hot shooting of Corey Hadnot II. The senior guard connected on four three-pointers during the frame, including two pivotal shots that tied the game at 63-63 with just over five minutes remaining.

"I knew we had a tough road ahead of us, but our guys showed incredible heart and resilience," said Purdue FW head coach Jon Coffman. "Corey's performance was unbelievable, and it was a team effort all night long."

The Boilermakers' resurgence was fueled by their ability to limit Cleveland St's offense, holding them to just 38% shooting from the field in the second half. Meanwhile, Purdue FW's defense tightened up, forcing 15 turnovers and securing crucial rebounds on both ends of the floor.

For Cleveland St, which struggled with its three-point shot all night long (16/42), Ice Emery led the charge with 15 points. However, it was not enough to overcome the Boilermakers' momentum, as Tre Beard added five assists to round out a balanced performance for the Vikings.

The win marked Purdue FW's fourth straight at home and improved their conference record to 3-2. The loss dropped Cleveland St to 1-4 in Big Ten play.

In a game that will be remembered for its thrilling finish, Corey Hadnot II's heroics served as the catalyst for the Boilermakers' comeback victory.