Even though it’s only November, it feels reminiscent of March. On Friday, Purdue suffered an upset against Valparaiso, who secured a victory with a last-second three-pointer.
The Beacons’ 83-80 triumph came about after they managed to push the game into overtime, followed by another overtime session. In double overtime, with the score tied and just four seconds remaining, junior guard Justus McNair brought the ball down the court and sank a game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer, defeating the Boilermakers.
Rather than an easy early-season game, Purdue found itself outscored 38-26 in the second half, following a late rally from the Beacons, who entered the game as 19.5-point underdogs.
With one minute remaining, McNair hit a jumper that leveled the score at 58. The Boilermakers failed to convert on multiple opportunities for a game-winner, leading to the first overtime.
Although Purdue regained the lead at one point, Valpo kept the Boilermakers within striking distance, eventually narrowing the gap to three points.
Rakim Chaney was awarded a one-and-one at the charity stripe to close the gap but missed his initial attempt. Nevertheless, Chaney managed to grab the rebound off his miss, then stepped back for a three-point shot that circled the rim and went in, just in time to force double overtime.
In the second extra period, the Beacons had the Boilermakers on the defensive, taking the lead before Purdue was able to tie it again. A hook shot from junior center Daniel Jacobsen with four seconds left created the opportunity for McNair to shine, clinching the upset for Valparaiso, a school with an undergraduate population that exceeds just 2,000 students.
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Despite not leading at any point except in double overtime, Valpo pulled off the victory. The Beacons, competing in Division I’s Missouri Valley Conference, are now off to a 2-0 start for the 2026-27 season.
Purdue falls to 0-2 after opening the season against No. 15 Gonzaga, where they suffered a narrow defeat.
Though completely unforeseen, Valpo’s win isn’t the first major upset of the season; earlier, Oklahoma was shocked at home by East Texas A&M on Monday. With the men’s basketball season just beginning, this could indicate a season filled with surprises ahead.
