(BCSNN) — Trey Kaufman‑Renn had heard Matt Painter preach it for four years — the first shot isn’t always the one that wins you games. On Thursday night, with Purdue’s season hanging in the balance, the junior forward finally lived the lesson.

Kaufman‑Renn tipped in a missed Braden Smith drive with 0.7 seconds remaining, giving second‑seeded Purdue a 79–77 win over No. 11 seed Texas in the Sweet 16 and sending the Boilermakers to their second Elite Eight in three seasons.

“It’s those tip‑ins at the end of games,” Kaufman‑Renn said. “He’s said that my whole time here, so it’s kind of cool to experience it.”

Kaufman‑Renn was brilliant throughout, scoring 20 points on 8‑for‑10 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds. He hit his first seven shots and had 14 points by halftime. His game‑winner came moments after Texas tied the score on a three‑point play by Dailyn Swain with 11.9 seconds left.

Smith finished with 16 points, five assists and two steals, while Fletcher Loyer added 18 points and hit four 3‑pointers. All five Purdue starters scored in double figures, combining for 75 of the team’s 79 points.

Texas star Tramon Mark poured in 29 points — the most by a Longhorn in an NCAA Tournament game since Kevin Durant in 2007 — despite visibly limping through the final minutes. The Longhorns (21–15) battled back repeatedly but struggled on the defensive glass, especially after 7‑footer Matas Vokietaitis was subbed out for the final possession.

“The No. 1 thing for us to have a chance today was to rebound with Purdue,” Texas coach Sean Miller said. “I thought we really struggled to rebound on defense.”

Purdue (30–8) improved to 10–0 in neutral‑site games this season and reached 30 wins for just the third time in program history. The Boilermakers have now made the Elite Eight in 2019, 2024 and 2026 — tied for the second‑most appearances nationally over that span.

The game stayed tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven. Texas pulled within 73–72 on a Chendall Weaver putback with 1:03 left, then briefly took the lead on Vokietaitis’ free throws. But C.J. Cox answered with two free throws of his own, setting up the frantic final sequence.

Kaufman‑Renn’s tip‑in marked his second career game‑winner in the final 10 seconds. He has now scored at least 20 points in four of his last six NCAA Tournament games.

Purdue will face top‑seeded Arizona on Saturday night with a trip to the Final Four on the line.