Can Purdue basketball's unsung heroes spark another March Madness run?
PROVIDENCE, R.I. − Myles Colvin's March Madness moment came in the city where he was born.
Purdue basketball's high-flying sophomore wing spent his early years in New England while his father was helping the Patriots become an NFL dynasty as a defensive end.
Colvin had no extra incentive Thursday, however, other than helping the Boilermakers stay alive.
His highlight dunk late in the first half of Purdue's 75-63 NCAA Tournament win over High Point at Amica Mutual Pavilion sparked a run that gave the Boilermakers a comfortable cushion.
"That was really huge to give us that 10-point cushion, but it was even bigger for us to come out and continue to push and keep that lead and not give them any breathing room," Colvin said.
Colvin's viral dunk, a rebound two-hand slam off Cam Heide's missed 3, will steal the spotlight, but it was part of the bench production the Boilermakers got and will need going forward.
Purdue basketball's bench pilots March Madness win
Heide, Colvin and Will Berg were names overshadowed during Purdue's 2024 national final run.
Gicarri Harris was still in high school.
On Thursday, those reserves combined for 22 points and 22 rebounds.
"I feel like we've got to be able to do that every single night," Harris said. "We've got to get our rest and recovery and be ready to go. Full energy for 40 minutes is definitely our key to success."
Heide registered double-digit rebounds for the second time in three games, adding 11 points.
When Colvin slammed back his missed 3, the crowd reaction tipped off Heide.
"I didn't even see his putback dunk because I shot the 3 and missed and I started kind of going back on defense and I fell. I tripped over the ref or another player's foot," Heide said. "I just saw him hanging on the rim and heard the pop of the crowd and figured it was a good play."
It was a good play, one of several from unlikely sources.
Berg, who'd played a combined 30 minutes over the last 23 games, had four points and two rebounds, including a first-half buzzer-beating putback while spelling foul-riddled center Trey Kaufman-Renn.
Harris helped Purdue dominate High Point on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds in 14 minutes while knocking down a crucial 3 that gave Purdue a 59-50 lead.
Other unsung heroes
Heide's stellar performance combined with the way High Point put its center on Caleb Furst, led to Purdue's lone senior playing just nine minutes.
But in those nine minutes, Furst had an offensive putback and forced two turnovers.
Furst and freshman guard CJ Cox were inserted into the starting lineup Jan. 2 at Minnesota, the second of an eventual seven-game win streak.
Cox had two of the Boilermakers' 19 offensive rebounds.
"We did a good job on the glass and that's one of the reasons why we did win this game," Cox said.
Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer will carry the Boilermakers.
The trio of returning starters collectively scored 49 points.
If the Boilermakers can get a similar production from the rest of its rotation, beating them will be a challenge for McNeese and potential opponent going forward.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Not just star power, Purdue basketball's bench sparks NCAA win
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