PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sometimes, the giant wins.

Sometimes, he’s too big, too strong, too good. Sometimes, the giant is just… better.

It’s the more common tale, even if it’s not as fun to read.

And, sometimes, another giant steals your coach.

McNeese lost more than their second-round Midwest Regional game Saturday inside Amica Mutual Pavilion. The Cowboys also lost head coach Will Wade.

Wade confirmed to the American Press he signed a six-year deal with North Carolina State just after his Cowboys fell to Purdue 76-62, knocking them out of the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Wade said when asked about his future. “I’m honest, but today, I want to focus on McNeese.”

It has been rumored that Bill Armstrong, a former Wade assistant currently coaching at Baylor, is the Cowboys’ first choice as the replacement. McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer would not discuss any possible hirings.

During his post-game press conference, an emotional Wade struggled to answer questions but left the impression he will always have McNeese in his heart. The school hired him after he was fired from LSU during a recruiting controversy. 

“McNeese has very good leadership,” said Wade. “Whatever happens, it will be left in good hands. This program will keep winning.

“Hopefully, I will always be part of it. The town has been incredible. I needed a place that would embrace me, and the town needed someone to embrace them. It just worked. I can’t explain why, but it did.”

Wade and his teams finished 58-11, 40-2 against Southland Conference competition. He was the two-time SLC Coach of the Year and took McNeese to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history.

This year’s team ended 28-7 after Purdue’s size and experience were too much to overcome.

The Boilermakers (24-11) advance to the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis next week to play the winner of Saturday night’s Houston/Gonzaga match. 

“They kind of imposed their will on us,” said McNeese guard Sincere Parker. “They made shots, and we missed shots.”

The Cowboys struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 5 of 13. Purdue made 19 of 23.

“I thought we were really hooked up starting the game,” said Purdue guard Fletcher Loyer, who finished with 15 points. 

Forward Trey Kaufman-Renn led all scorers with 22 points and 15 rebounds, controlling the paint.

Parker led the Cowboys with 17 while Javohn Garcia added 12. Forward Christian Shumate’s record-setting career ended with six points and nine rebounds.

“I’m happy to have been here,” said Shumate. “It’s emotional right now. It’s been a crazy ride.”

The Cowboys fell behind early, unlike Thursday when they led 31-13 at the half. Purdue had almost three times as many points by the break and led 38-20.

“We just didn’t have the pop we had the last game,” said Wade. “We could not refill our tanks quick enough.”

If there was any hope of a comeback, they ended with 15:47 remaining. Just after McNeese’s Quadir Copeland was called for his fourth personal foul, third for charging taken by Purdue’s Bradon Smith, the call went the other way at the other end.

Christian Shumate was called for a foul when Kaufman-Renn appeared to have run him over. Wade and Shumate were both hit with technical fouls, and Purdue made five of the following six free throws to lead 53-28. 

McNeese followed with a nice 11-0 run at one point, but in the end, it was too big of a lead to overcome. 

When the final buzzer sounded, a tearing-up Wade embraced Schroyer with a giant hug as if to say both thank you and… goodbye.