Valparaiso Stuns Purdue 83-80 in Double Overtime on Justus McNair's Buzzer-Beater

Valparaiso stunned Purdue 83-80 in double overtime on Friday night, Nov. 6, 2026, at Mackey Arena, when Justus McNair hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, according to the Associated Press and Purdue Athletics. It was Valparaiso’s first win over Purdue since 1965, the school said.

The loss dropped Purdue to 0-2, its first 0-2 start since the 1976-77 season. The Beacons improved to 2-0. The game was Purdue’s home opener.

Two shots that changed the night

The finish came down to two Valparaiso 3-pointers at the end of the overtimes:

1. End of the first overtime: Rakim Chaney rebounded his own missed free throw and hit a corner 3-pointer with one second left to tie it 70-70, Purdue Athletics reported.
2. End of the second overtime: McNair, who had missed his first three attempts from distance, buried the game-winning 3 at the horn, AP reported.

McNair had also forced the first overtime with a late basket in regulation. Chaney had tied the game 56-56 with a 3-pointer with 1:46 left in regulation before Purdue’s Daniel Jacobsen made two free throws, AP said.

How Purdue lost a 15-4 lead

Purdue started fast. Jack Benter’s 3-pointer made it 15-4 in the first 10 minutes, and the Boilermakers led 32-20 at halftime, AP reported. Jacobsen had 11 points by the break.

Valparaiso outscored Purdue 38-26 in the second half to force overtime, according to Purdue Athletics. In the first extra period, Jacobsen hit two free throws 20 seconds in, and Purdue stayed in front until Chaney’s tying shot.

Rakim Chaney and Daniel Jacobsen

Both teams got career nights from their top scorers:

Chaney is a sophomore. Jacobsen, a 7-foot-4 junior, posted the first double-double of his career, Purdue Athletics said, and Cox added a double-double of his own.

Where Purdue struggled

The team numbers explain much of the upset. Valparaiso shot 46.5% from the field to Purdue’s 37.5%, and 25.9% from 3-point range to Purdue’s 17.9%, according to Purdue Athletics. Purdue did win the rebounding battle 46-37, but it gave up a 3-pointer in the final second of both overtimes.

Purdue came in off a 78-72 loss to No. 15 Gonzaga in its season opener in Las Vegas, AP reported. Two losses in the first week is a rare start for the Boilermakers, which is why the result drew wide attention across college basketball on Friday night.

What’s next

• Purdue: continues its homestand against Illinois State on Monday, Nov. 9, at 8:30 p.m. ET, the school said.
• Valparaiso: plays at San Diego State on Wednesday, according to AP.

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