Braden Smith led No. 1 Purdue to a victory over Alabama by scoring 21 of his 29 points in the second half, including a go-ahead three-pointer and a tiebreaking layup.
Throughout the intense game, which featured 21 lead changes, Smith directly engaged with the Alabama student section, staring them down after his crucial shots and celebrating a late basket. He attributed his performance to his inherent competitive drive and chip on his shoulder, rather than external motivation from the crowd.
Smith also contributed significantly with his free-throw shooting, going 10-for-10 in the second half, and his rebounding, outperforming Alabama's entire starting frontcourt.
