Wednesday night was the final chance for the Gophers’ seniors to play at Williams Arena. They took advantage of the opportunity.
Nate Mason and Bakary Konate their mark during an 86-82 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Mason had 33 points on 11-for-19 shooting to go along with six assists. Konate, the senior big-man, grabbed ten rebounds in 20 minutes of action. The Hawkeyes shot 60 percent in the second half, but the Gophers managed to pull out a four-point victory.
The Gophers snapped a nine-game losing streak dating back to mid-January. It provided a small ounce of positivity for a program plagued by adversity over the past two months.
Minnesota used a fast start to get the Hawkeyes on their heels early. They opened the game on a 22-2 run behind 12 points from point guard Nate Mason. Mason was playing confidently all night, taking the ball to the basket and finishing through contact. Bakary Konate had seven quick rebounds, a blocked shot and assist in his first four minutes of action. He was very active on the defensive end during his final night playing at Williams Arena. Iowa was shooting just 1-for-8 until a 9-0 run trimmed the Minnesota lead to 11 points. Minnesota went more than seven minutes without a field goal, but carried a 31-19 lead into the break.
Out of halftime, Iowa made six of their first eight shots and continued the momentum as they trimmed the Gophers’ lead to five points. Nate Mason had an answer for the Iowa runs, making tough contested shots all night. The Hawkeyes shot 58.8 percent in the second half, but three-pointers from Michael Hurt and Dupree McBrayer spelled Iowa’s runs. McBrayer had 16 points, including a pair of three-pointers, in his second game back from a leg injury. Jordan Murphy also picked up his 23rd double-double, corralling two notable dunks off dishes from Nate Mason. The Hawkeyes shot 25-for-41 (60 percent) in the second half, pulling within three points with two seconds left. Iowa guard Isaiah Moss had three second half three-pointers to keep the Hawkeyes within striking distance. He finished with a dazzling 19 points in the final two minutes of the game.
Minnesota had two key turnovers in the final seconds, but hit five of their final seven field goals to complete their fourth Big Ten win of the season. Iowa guard Isaiah Moss had 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting, but Nate Mason and the Gophers managed to snap a nine-game losing streak. It was an emotional exit for the three seniors, who spoke after the game. Bakary Konate fought back tears, while Nate Mason thanked his family for their support. The duo will unlace their shoes and know they walked away victorious in their final game at Williams Arena.
Minnesota will travel to Purdue on Saturday to close out the Big Ten season.