Minnesota Falters in Regulation but Beats Michigan in Overtime
February 19, 2017

The Minnesota Gophers blew a late lead during regulation play but held on in overtime for an 83-78 win over the Michigan Wolverines.

The teams came into the game tied for sixth place in the Big Ten with 7-6 conference records, and the victory gave the Gophers a boost toward a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Minnesota held a 70-64 lead with just over a minute left in regulation, but Derrick Walton cut the margin by driving for a layup while drawing a foul from Jordan Murphy. Walton converted. After Amir Coffey turned the ball over with 24 seconds left, D. J. Wilson hit a jumper to bring the Wolverines to within 70-69.

Dupree McBrayer hit a pair of free throws for the Gophers with 12 seconds left, and Wilson then launched a three-pointer to tie the game with 1.8 seconds left, and the game headed into overtime.

Michigan had curbed its early turnover problems in the second half but made two quick ones in overtime, and Nate Mason followed with a layup to put Minnesota ahead. Muhammad-Ali Abdul-Rahkman answered with a three-pointer, but Murphy grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back with a dunk to put the Gophers in front to stay.

Walton had a chance to send the game to another period but missed a three-pointer in the final seconds

The Gophers dominated on the boards in the game, outrebounding the Wolverines 44-31, including 13 offensive rebounds. Though they didn’t shoot well from the line, Minnesota had 41 free throws, making 28 of them. Michigan attempted only 18 free throws and exacerbated its problems by making only 50 percent of them.

All five Michigan starters scored in double figures, led by Walton and Wilson with 16 points, but the Wolverines got only seven points off the bench.

Minnesota, meanwhile, got 15 points from McBrayer and 12, all in the second half, from another reserve, Eric Curry.

Murphy also had 15 points and led both teams with 15 rebounds. Reggie Lynch scored 11 points and had 8 rebounds, despite picking up his third foul in the first minute of the second half. Lynch later picked up his fourth foul but avoided fouling out, in large part because of the time he spent on the bench, including the entire overtime period.

Michigan’s big man, Moritz Wagner, scored 15 points and had 7 rebounds, and fouled out in overtime.