Gophers Wilt at Crunch Time
January 28, 2017

Prior to the start of the game with the high-flying turtles from the state of Maryland, it was observed that the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team needed at least 80 points to win.

The Gophers failed to hit the 80 mark, folding like a cheap tent, blowing a 70-67 lead in the final four minutes, and eventually losing by the score of 85 to 78 for the team’s fifth consecutive loss.

The disturbing pattern of falling short in close games has placed a serious crimp in NCAA tournament plans, leaving Minnesota with a 3-6 conference record at the halfway point in the Big 10 season.

So predictable have the Gophers become that with 36 seconds remaining and Minnesota trailing by only four points, the majority of the 11,191 fans in attendance crowded the exit aisles. They had seen this show before and could not bear to witness to another defeat.

The Gophers are lacking a “go to guy,” someone to count on at crunch time. (Trent Tucker has long since used up his eligibility and therefore is not coming back.) Early in the season, it was thought that freshman Amir Coffey could fill that role and, later, Nate Mason was anointed, but both faded. Today, the closest to a go to guy on the roster is former sub and transfer senior Akeem Springs who eagerly wants the ball at crunch time, but his shot selection has proven to be erratic. Nevertheless, he led Gopher scorers against Maryland with 23 points.

The game began with both teams lethargic, perhaps due to the early afternoon start time mandated by the Big 10 Network. Minnesota snapped out of the funk first as DuPree McBrayer’s three-point basket gave the Gophers a 21-9 lead. It proved to be the biggest lead of the game and did not last.

Melo Trimble scored to bring the Terrapins to within 28-26, but Minnesota closed the half with a 33-26 lead. Eighty points was considered do-able, but required the Gophers to play defense, something that eluded them. With 10 minutes left to go, the lead was gone after an Anthony Cowen layup.

It was 67-67 at the five-minute mark. Eric Curry’s basket put the Gophers back in the lead, and it held until Trimble’s layup basket gave Maryland a 72-71 lead. Panic set in, and Minnesota stumbled through the final two minutes, causing the crowd’s early departure.

Maryland’s freshman forward Justin Jackson led all scorers with 28 points, thanks in part to ineffective defense from Reggie Lynch, Jordan Murphy, and Bakery Konate. The Terrapins scored 59 points in the second half of the game.