McNair's Buzzer Beater Ends Purdue Season Opener in Double Overtime

Valparaiso outscored Purdue 13-10 in the final two minutes of regulation to force overtime, a lead that would not hold for long. The Beacons finished the regular season game with a 56-56 tie after Justus McNair hit a jumper to level the score in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Rakim Chaney, a sophomore, took control of the game with a career-high 35 points. He went 14-for-22 from the field and hit four three-pointers. His performance included eight rebounds and six assists, making him the offensive engine for a team that had not played in a regular season game before this one.

Purdue struggled to contain Chaney, who tied the game at 56 with 1:46 left in regulation and again at 70 with one second left in the first overtime. The latter shot forced a second extra period after the Boilermakers had led throughout the first half and into the start of the second.

Daniel Jacobsen, a 7-foot-4 junior, led Purdue with 28 points and 10 rebounds. He made 9 of 13 shots and 10 of 12 free throws. C.J. Cox contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Gicarri Harris added 11 points for the Boilermakers.

The defeat gives Purdue a 0-2 start to the season. This is the first time since the 1976-77 campaign that the Boilermakers began a season with two losses. They had previously dropped their opener 78-72 to 15th-ranked Gonzaga in Las Vegas.

Valparaiso enters its next game at 2-0. The Beacons will travel to play San Diego State on Wednesday. Purdue will host Illinois State on Monday, looking to stop its losing streak in its second home game of the season.