Purdue guard Carsen Edwards had what might have been the best individual performance of the entire NCAA Tournament on Saturday night, but it wasn't quite enough.
Edwards scored 42 points for the Boilermakers, including 10 3-pointers on 19 attempts, but Purdue fell in overtime to Virginia, 80-75, in the Elite Eight.
With 1:10 to play in regulation, Edwards hit a three that gave Purdue a 69-67 lead, and that could have been the game-winning shot, as Virginia turned the ball over on its next possession. Even after a missed free throw by Ryan Cline on the Boilermakers' next possession, Purdue had a 70-67 lead with just 16 seconds to play, and sent Virginia to the free-throw line to avoid giving up a three. After Ty Jerome intentionally missed a free throw, however, Virginia came away with the offensive rebound and Mamadi Diakite made a two-point shot at the buzzer to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Edwards, who scored 40 of his 42 points in regulation, made another jumper with 42 seconds left to play in overtime to give Purdue a 75-74 lead. After Virginia went back ahead on its next possession, however, Edwards missed a three, allowing the Cavaliers to take a three-point lead on a pair of free throws by Kyle Guy. Purdue still had one more opportunity with five seconds remaining to tie the game, but Edwards' attempt to pass the ball down the court to Ryan Cline went out of bounds, sealing the Virginia victory.
Oh no, Carsen... #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/HIGiq4l7W5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 31, 2019
Despite the loss, Edwards was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament's South Regional, becoming the first player to win those honors for a regional without being on a winning team since Stephen Curry in 2008.
Carsen Edwards' #Elite8 highlight tape is one for the ages. #MarchMadness | @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/Vz3v41c0PA
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 31, 2019
In four tournament games, Edwards made a total of 28 3-pointers, breaking the record for most 3-pointers in a single NCAA Tournament, previously set by Michigan's Glen Rice with 27 in six games in 1989.
The Big Ten will have one more shot to land a team in the Final Four on Sunday, when Michigan State is scheduled to play Duke at 5:05 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
Edwards, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, now faces a decision on whether to enter the 2019 NBA draft or return to Purdue for his senior season.
