Tollackson Gives Gophers a Buzzer Beating 63-61 Win

The final seconds Saturday’s game was one of those situations where it didn’t really matter who the Gophers were playing or how much they’ve struggled at times this year. What mattered in the games final seconds is that they battled back from an eight point second half deficit, and hit a rare buzzer beater to experience that winning feeling. And with Spencer Tollackson’s tip-in, the small crowd at Williams Arena jumped to their feet as the Minnesota Golden Gophers got a much needed 63-61 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

After trailing by eight points in the second half, Lawrence McKenzie caught a hot hand and led the Gophers back into the game as he hit a lay-up with a minute to go giving Minnesota a 59-58 lead.

SE Louisiana hit one of two free throws to tie the game before Limar Wilson hit two big free throws for the Gophers, giving them a 61-59 lead with 37 seconds remaining. But the Lions wouldn’t go away as Tarvaris Nance tied the game with just over five seconds remaining. McKenzie then took the ball the length of the court and missed a game winning shot, but Tollackson was right there with a tip-in at the buzzer.

Tollackson and fellow junior big man Dan Coleman provided the offensive spark for the Gophers in the first half as the two combined for 20 of the teams 24 points. Tollackson finished with a game high 21 points and added seven rebounds, McKenzie had 17 points (all in the games final 13 minutes) and Coleman finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The win improves the Gophers to 6-8, but now the fun begins as the Gophers kick-off the Big Ten season on Wednesday night as they play host to the Purdue Boilermakers.