The weather was frigid outside, but the shooting inside Williams Arena was only a little warmer. At the half, Harvard and Minnesota were shooting just 29 percent, but the Gophers managed to carry a nine-point lead into halftime. They never looked back as Jordan Murphy scored 13 points and snatched 12 rebounds. Dupree McBrayer added 15 points to cruise past Harvard for a 65-55 win.
The Gophers used a 16-3 run fueled by a pair of three-pointers from Michael Hurt and Dupree McBrayer to claim an eight-point advantage. Minnesota went on a cold streak over four minutes, allowing Harvard to creep closer. However, an 8-0 run helped the Gophers cruise into halftime with a 29-20 lead. Minnesota led by as many as 13 points in the second half, but a 7-0 run by Harvard pulled them within three points. Minnesota quickly answered via three-pointers from Dupree McBrayer and Amir Coffey to extend their advantage back to 11.
In his second start of the season in relief of Nate Mason, Isaiah Washington struggled to have success from the floor. He went just 4-for-17 from the floor and led the team in shots. Washington still struggles with shot selection and could facilitate more to his playmakers. This is especially the case when he is struggling to hit shots, which has occurred in many games this year. He was moving the ball much better in the second half, but needs to be more consistent. Washington finished the afternoon with nine points and two assists in the starting role.
With Mason, out the Gophers managed to receive a 15-point lift from Dupree McBrayer during his return from a leg injury. He drilled three three-pointers and finished with a steal and slam in transition. McBrayer didn’t have any noticeable wrap on his leg and appeared to be moving well, which is encouraging for Minnesota’s guard depth. The Gophers improved their ball movement on offense and settled into their sets much better in the second half. Michael Hurt was valuable on offense by cutting, attacking and delivering kickouts for Washington and McBrayer outside the arch. Hurt has quietly improved with more playing time and added seven points off the bench, including a big dunk. His ability to cut and pass has really helped the Minnesota offense.
Jordan Murphy continued to grab rebounds and create tough finishes around the rim. He extended his double-double streak to 15 games as he continues to cement himself as one of the top big-men in the country. He continued to settle into his low-post moves and managed to create consistently off the dribble. His dominance has allowed the Gophers to establish balanced scoring. The team had three players in double figures and it allowed them to fend off a slow start.
Reggie Lynch led the team in scoring during the first half, including two jump hooks to start the game. However, he had several lapses on defense. In one sequence, he allowed three offensive boards and a tip-in by Robert Baker. Earlier in the game, he was caught leaning, allowing a baseline drive and easy finish. Richard Pitino often inserted Bakary Konate into the rotation to help on the defensive end. He forced a steal and was active in help defense during several rotations. Lynch was better in this game, but will need to continue improving heading into Big Ten play.
Minnesota improved to 12-3 on the season and will return to Big Ten play Wednesday night during a clash with Illinois at Williams Arena.