Lackluster Gophers Sleepwalk Past Mustangs 59-50

Most of the reports from today’s 59-50 Gopher win over Southwest Minnesota State will probably be negative. But rest assured there were a few positives for the Gophers. First and foremost, due to the 3:00 pm start time, most of the guys on the team were likely able to see the dominating third quarter by the football Gophers. Another positive is that unlike the Indiana Hoosiers, the Gophers escaped without any injuries in their first exhibition. But that’s about it. That’s about the only positives that can come from today’s lifeless, lackluster nine point Gopher win.

The Gophers came out with the same trap that proved so important last year and it created a little havoc early on for SWMS, but the trap wasn’t as active or played with the same intensity that led the way last year for the Gophers. Instead it was played with the type of intensity that a team needs to have if it wants to spend their next practice running line drills and more line drills.

The Gophers came out and jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead. Vincent Grier and Maurice Hargrow each had a few early baskets, and Spencer Tollackson had a few nice moves early. Minnesota opened up a double digit lead late in the first half and took a 32-20 halftime lead after forcing 12 Mustang turnovers.

The Gophers came out with a little more intensity in the second half and opened up a 20 point lead midway through the second half 46-26, but only managed to score 13 points in the games remaining 10 minutes against the Mustangs. Give credit to SWMS as they showed no signs of giving up or backing down and managed to get the game under double digits in the last minute.

The Gophers were led by Grier and Hargrow who had 18 and 16 points, respectively and were the only Gophers to finish with double digits. Both played decent games, but at times seemed to lack the leadership and intensity that will obviously be needed if this team wants to recapture the type of mentality that was so prominent last season.

There were a few bright spots today. I thought the center play was decent. Tollackson finished with six points and six rebounds and appears more confident offensively this season. Jonathan Williams also showed that he is ready to have an important role this year and appears to have adapted to the speed of the game, an area he struggled with in the few games he played last year.

Jamal Abu Shamala also looked comfortable in the 16 minutes he played. He will have to adapt to the speed of the game at this level, but he was not afraid to shoot the ball and appears to have a good feel for the game. While Shamala scored his first points as a Gopher on a nice three-pointer, Brandon Smith’s first two points at the college level will be equally memorable although not for the same reasons as he banked in two free throws, but it got him in the scorebook!

Needless to say, the Gopher team that played at The Barn today better not show up again this season. Not for a practice and especially not for a game. But hey, the afternoon wasn’t all that bad”¦.Gary Russell did rush for a career high 188 yards and three TDs!