Gophers Lose Challenge Game, 85-81
November 29, 2017
The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team lost a hotly-contested 85-81 contest to the 10th ranked Miami Hurricanes Wednesday night as part of the annual Big Ten-ACC Challenge series.
To indicate the Big Ten has played poorly in the series would be a gross understatement. Only Nebraska has posted a win (71-62 over Boston College) in the challenge series while Big Ten stalwarts like Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan have fallen.
No one suspected that DuPree McBrayer was a key cog in the Gopher machine until he went down with injury prior to the Miami tussle. A nervous freshman, Isiah Washington, started in McBrayer’s place and missed seven shots while scoring only two points in the first half which saw the game at 36-36.
Minnesota saw no scoring help throughout the game from the team’s bench as members moved about in a trance when called upon to rest members of the first string. The starting five were forced to do all the scoring. Amir Coffey led with 23 points, followed by Jordan Murphy with 17.
“We turned the ball over too much,” explained Gopher coach Richard Pitino. “Miami is an athletic and talented team. We squandered our opportunities. They made the big plays, and we didn’t.”
A key moment in the sold-out game came at the 3:10 mark of the first half when Murphy was fouled and missed both free throw attempts. The wind was taken from the Gopher sails, and Miami did not let up. Soon the lead was 82-73, and Minnesota was cooked.
Minnesota’s defense was less than sterling throughout the course of the game. Miami popped four three-point baskets in the first half and six in the second. The Gophers’ perimeter defense was shaky, and the simple act of putting a hand in the shooter’s face eluded team members.
Miami was successful on 56 percent of their shots in the second half which saw the Hurricanes jumping to an early 45-38 lead. Minnesota played catch-up after that but fell behind at 68-56 with none minutes to go. Miami was to score 17 total points off of Gopher turnovers.
Center Dewan Huell led Miami with 23 points. Guards Bruce Brown had 16 and Jaquon Newton 12.
“Our bench is inexperienced,” Pitino said. “When DuPree went down, I think our defense went away.”