SPOKANE, Wash. — Chris Kramer’s drive past one defender and a layup over another 6 inches taller than him with 4.2 seconds remaining in overtime sent fourth-seeded Purdue to a 63-61 victory over fifth-seeded Texas A&M on Sunday.
Texas A&M’s B.J. Holmes got a final, frantic chance to win the game with a rushed 3-point try from in front of his bench at the buzzer, but it hit short on the rim to ensure Purdue’s sixth regional appearance in 12 NCAA Tournaments, dating to 1994.
Kramer, Purdue’s leader with Robbie Hummel out with a knee injury, led the Boilermakers (29-5) with 17 points and seven rebounds.
Bryan Davis led the Aggies (24-10) with 17 points and 15 rebounds. The 6-foot-9 senior was the man who leaped but could not block Kramer’s winning shot.
“I had the ball and went right and crossed over to the left, and it parted like the Red Sea,” Kramer said of the A&M defense. “Then it came down to finishing, as Davis came over and tried to block my shot.”
The fourth overtime game of this tournament had three ties, with the relentless Aggies taking two-point leads and the unyielding Boilermakers answering each time.
Duke 68, California 53
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nolan Smith scored 20 points, Kyle Singler added 17 and top-seeded Duke advanced.
Brian Zoubek finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds — the sixth double-double of his career — as the Blue Devils (31-5) overcame some long-range shooting woes with dominant post play.
The eighth-seeded Golden Bears (24-11) failed to get past the opening weekend for the fourth time in four Tournament appearances.
Exploiting a huge advantage in size and depth in the frontcourt, the Blue Devils opened a double-figure lead in the first half, and Cal never seriously threatened to get back into the game.
The Associated Press
