Gophers Pick Up First Big Ten Win vs. Indiana, 67-63

Following two straight losses to open the Big Ten conference season, #21 Minnesota overcame a six point first half deficit to defeat Indiana, 67-63 and pick up a much needed win at Williams Arena on Tuesday. With the win, Minnesota moves to 12-3 overall with a 1-2 record in the Big Ten.

Trevor Mbakwe grabbed 16 rebounds and scored 11 points for his ninth double-double of the season and added five blocks, while Blake Hoffarber had 16 points in home victory. Mbakwe tied career highs for rebounds and blocks with the effort. Al Nolen capped a productive night with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals and Rodney Williams provided a second half spark by scoring 10 points over the final 20 minutes to finish the game with 12 points and four rebounds.

Indiana (9-7, 0-3) started off quickly and opened up a 7-3 lead after two minutes of action. Mbakwe responded with six points of his own over the next 1:21, however, giving the Gopher a 9-7 edge which lasted until the 14:13 mark in the half. After taking back the lead and widening the margin to 20-13 with seven minutes left, Minnesota fell victim to a relentless 19-6 Indiana run to end the half. The Hoosiers took full advantage of poor Gopher shooting and turnovers to take control of the contest with a six point lead.

Both teams traded baskets to start the second half before the Hoosiers extended the margin to eight at 38-30 with 17:04 remaining. A Nolen basket, followed by eight consecutive points from Williams brought the Gophers back to life and ignited the crowd as Minnesota reclaimed the lead at 40-38 with 13:45 remaining.

Indiana braved the 10-0 Gopher run with a Maurice Creek layup and the two teams would find themselves tied again at 51 with 7:44 left to play in the game. Minnesota then went on a 9-0 run to take a 59-51 advantage at the 4:51 mark, following buckets from Nolen, Ralph Sampson III, Williams, and a free throw from Hoffarber.

Indiana would cut the lead to four 1:49 later on an Victro Oladipo basket to make the score 61-57. A Nolen layup would be the only scoring over the following 2:38 of play before a free throw, also from Nolen, put the contest at 64-57 with only 24 seconds left to play. Verdell Jones hit a three-pointer which put the Hoosiers down three (66-63) with nine seconds remaining and two Hoffarber free throws closed out the game to put the final score 67-63.

Jones III and Oladipo led the Hoosiers with 13 points each.

Minnesota continued its season long struggles from the free throw line, converting just 18 of its 28 chances (64 percent). The Gophers out shot Indiana from the field, connecting on 42 percent (22-53) of their field goals to the Hoosier’s 38 percent (23-61). Thanks in large part to Mbakwe, Minnesota outrebounded the opposition 39 to 26 while also adding 10 team blocks.

The Gophers will next travel to Columbus to take on #2 Ohio State on Sun. Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.