Emotional Victory for Gophers
December 5, 2018

Last season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, led by James Palmer’s 19 points, defeated Minnesota at Williams Arena, 91-85. This season, the Gophers hosted the Cornhuskers and, led by Amir Coffey’s 32 points, defeated Nebraska by 85 to 78.

Last season, the Gophers were minus Coffey (injured) and Reggie Lynch (banished) and yet finished within six points of Nebraska.

This season, the Cornhuskers were ranked as the 24th best team in the nation.

“We didn’t play good down the stretch,” lamented Huskers coach Tim Miles. “Plus, Coffey was good on both ends of the floor. We just kept sending him to the foul line [14 of 17]. He also did a good job on defense, taking Palmer out of the picture.”

It was an emotional game for the Gophers. The mother of starting guard DuPree McBrayer, who died on Monday. Nevertheless, McBrayer was in the starting lineup and contributed a key three-point basket with four and one-half minutes left to draw Minnesota to within 71-68.

“DuPree’s mom raised a great kid,” said Minnesota coach Richard Pitino after the game. “She was supportive, a special lady. I couldn’t do what he did tonight.”

In a classy move, Miles honored McBrayer’s mother, the late Tayra McFarlane, 58, with special warm-up jerseys that read: “R.I.P. Tayra”.

After McBrayer’s basket, Nebraska retaliated with a pair of Glynn Watson free throws, but Jordan Murphy scored on a layup in the paint to make it 73-70, and two free throws by Coffey drew Minnesota to within one point of the Huskers.

The Gophers took the lead for good on a pair of Murphy free throws. The crowd, listed at 9,624, roared with approval, sounding like more than 15,000 were in the building.

“It’s a different noise they make,” observed Miles. “it’s an all-encompassing noise that cascades from the roof down to the playing surface.”

Coffey hit on a three-point shot with two and-one half minutes left, and the crowd erupted. Baskets by Gabe Kalscheur made it 81-76 with less than a minute to go, and the Cornhuskers folded.

“We didn’t play well down the stretch,” said Miles. “They made the little hustle plays that really matter. We need to learn how to finish a team off.”

In the first half, it looked as if Nebraska was going to run the Gophers out of their own building. The Huskers were executing set plays and finding the open man. Meanwhile, the Gophers were missing easy shots in the paint until Coffey caught fire, drawing a slew of shooting fouls. He made nine in the first half alone, but when he drew his third foul and sat down with 4:11 left, Gopher production dagged. Nebraska led by 44 to 39 at the half. The Huskers were shooting 51 percent from the floor.

Any thought that Minnesota would rebound quickly in the second half were banished when a pair of Isiah Robey free throws shot the Cornhuskers into a 51-40 lead. Things pretty much stayed that way until the period was half over, and a Matz Stockman basket cut the Huskers lead to 67-58. Then Coffey went to work, scoring on a fast break and then a three-point play.

McBrayer’s three-point basket was the official momentum changer. “I just wanted so badly for the ball to go in for him,” his coach said, “just so he could feel good.”

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