Gophers Bounce Back
December 31, 2012

Down by five points to Michigan State with nine minutes to play at Williams Arena on New Year’s Eve, the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team came roaring back to outscore the Spartans 22-4 and win the game by the score of 76 to 63.

After Keith Appling scored on a layup to put MSU on top 59-54, Minnesota’s Austin Hollins rammed through a dunk shot to bring the Gophers to within three points. Then, Rodney Williams made good on a pair of free throw attempts, and Minnesota crept to within 59-58. Michigan State reserve Adreian Payne answered with a dunk to put the Spartans back up by three before Trevor Mbakwe ignited the sellout crowd of 14,625 with a dunk of his own, and it was 61-60. Gopher Joe Coleman scored on jump shot to put Minnesota into the lead, one they never relinquished.

Point guard Andre Hollins led the scoring with 22 points. He made seven field goals in 11 attempts and seven out of seven free throws. Mbakwe, still recovering from knee surgery, gave the crowd a scare when, in the process of diving for a loose ball, flew off the elevated arena floor and into a row of spectators. Apparently unhurt, he finished the game with a double-double (12 rebounds, 11 points).

“I thought we had the opportunity to steal a game in a hostile environment,” mused MSU coach Tom Izzo after the game. “We had some guys who did not come through for us. We crumbled down the stretch.”

Izzo indicated he felt the game was lost “on transition defense.” He also called attention to the fact that the Spartans made only two of 10 free throw attempts.

“We had to find a way to win this game, commented Gopher coach Tubby Smith. “We did it by getting stops when we needed them. Andre Hollins is coming into his own for us. He played with both his heart and his head. But we had other players who also raised their level of play.”

Williams had 15 points including five free throws. Austin Hollins finished with 12. Coleman had eight. For Michigan State, Appling had 15 and Gary Harris 12.

Six Minnesota bench players entered the game, but only two (Oto Osenieks and Julian Welch) scored.

Before the game’s start, popular public address announcer Dick Jonckowski announced that seven of both team’s starting 10 players were guards. This represents a startling departure from the traditional two forwards, two guards, and a center lineup of not so long ago. Once upon a time, basketball teams ran plays through the pivot man (center). Typically, a point guard would set the play, pass the ball to the center who played with his back to the basket. Both guards would be blocking, so the center could throw the ball to the forward who was in the best position. The forward could shoot or drive for a closer shot, or he could pass the ball to either of the guards who would usually be close to the basket by this time.

That was Basketball 101 back in the day. Today, the center (if there is one) plays offense facing the basket. Plays (if there are any) are often impromptu ventures intended to shake a shooter loose and, if he misses, fight for the offensive board. The team that is bigger and faster than its opponent usually triumphs. In today’s game, only the strong survive.

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