Gophers Run out of Chips in Las Vegas in Four Point Loss

What happens in Vegas ““ stays in Vegas. Well, especially if you’re talking about visual memories of the UNLV-Minnesota game on Friday night as only about 128 people on the Nevada/Utah border were able to see tonight’s game on television. With no television in most markets, the Gophers hit the strip with some fresh legs after a week off for finals and a new starting lineup. But the Gophers lost all of their chips at the table and walked away empty handed after a 62-58 loss.

Minnesota suffered two tough loses as Dan Coleman and Lawrence McKenzie cashed in early as each fouled out in the second half with five points. But fortunately Jamal Abu Shamala had the hot hand all night nailing four three-pointers finishing with 12 points as he kept the Gophers in the game in the second half. Spencer Tollackson turned a trick or two including a last second shot at the end of the first half and finished with a team-high 13 points and eight rebounds.

But Sin City’s own Rebels opened up a 59-49 lead after a 10-2 run behind a lopsided free throw discrepancy as the Gophers learned the odds aren’t on your side when the opponent shoots 18 more free throws than you do. And in the end, it didn’t matter if it was New York, New York, Paris, or the Thomas & Mack Center, not even a high roller can overcome the pit bosses active whistles.

The Gophers are leaving Las Vegas with a 5-8 record, but the team will put their chips back on the table on Saturday, December 30 when it hosts SE Louisiana in the final non-conference game of the season. And with the Big Ten season a mere two weeks away, no way will this team fold.