Gopher Basketball
The win snapped Nebraska’s 16-game home non-conference winning streak and was huge for the Gophers as it came back from a miserable first half and a nine-point halftime deficit.
The Gophers used stingy defense, team play and flat out hustle to get themselves back in the game in the second half and used a 15-0 run late in the game to pull away. After trailing 45-40 with under four minutes remaining, Minnesota used back-to-back three-point plays to take the lead.
The first was possibly the biggest play of the game as Aaron Robinson hit a streaking J’Son Stamper on a fast break and he was fouled as he made the lay-up. Stamper made the free throw to cut the Nebraska lead to 45-43 with 3:52 remaining. Nebraska missed a three-pointer and Jeff Hagen made them pay as he converted on an up-and-under move down low and was fouled. Hagen also made his free throw giving the Gophers a 46-45 lead with just under three minutes to play.
Vincent Grier then took over as he hit two huge three-pointers including one as the Gophers shot clock expired. Brent Lawson hit a free throw and Stamper added two more of his own as the Gophers turned a five point deficit with under four minutes left to a ten point lead with 28 seconds remaining before finishing Nebraska off with a 57-48 victory and a big confidence boost for a program learning to redefine itself.
It did not start out pretty for the Gophers as they got off to a horrible first half. Both teams struggled early on as the game was scoreless until Jason Dourisseau broke the scoreless tie. Grier then responded with a three-pointer giving the Gophers an early 3-2 lead, its only lead until 36-34 more than half-way through the second half.
After Nebraska fell behind 3-2, they went on a 17-2 run and opened up a 19-5 lead with under eight minutes remaining in the first half. Despite the Cornhuskers missing 13 of its first 16 field goal attempts, Nebraska used a barrage of Gopher turnovers and missed shots to build a commanding 26-17 halftime lead.
Despite having more turnovers than field goals (12 to 10, respectively) with 17 minutes remaining in the game, the Gophers chipped away at the Nebraska lead and pulled within two points, 29-31 after a Dan Coleman jumper with 13:34 remaining.
The Gophers kept battling and remained patient on offense and Robinson gave them their first lead 36-34 since the first half as he hit his third of three second half three-pointers.
Grier’s big second half led the way for the Gophers as he finished with a game high 17 points (3/4 from three-point land) and added eight rebounds. Hagen overcame a rough first half and battled through it finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds, and Coleman bounced back from a rough game against Holy Cross as he finished with eight points on 4/5 from the field and was instrumental in keeping the Gophers within striking distance in the first half.
Overall it was a great team effort for the Gophers and its stingy second-half defense was the difference as it allowed only 22 points. In addition, Gopher fans witnessed a well-coached, hustling team that fought its way back from a 14-point deficit on the road. The win will no doubt give the Gophers a much needed and deserved confidence boost heading into a pivotal eight game home stretch. Minnesota, which improved to 4-3 with the win, hosts Central Michigan Saturday at noon.