Gophers Beat Buckeyes for First Big Ten Win
January 3, 2009

In a matchup between a pair of teams ranked in the top 25 in the country, Minnesota beat Ohio State 68-59 before a crowd of 14,625 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Both teams came into the game with one loss. For Number 21 Minnesota, the loss came in its conference opener, three days before against Michigan State, in game in which the Gophers were outrebounded by 49 to 27; for the Number 23 Buckeyes, the loss was in a nonconference game against West Virginia.

Against Minnesota, Ohio State pulled out to a lead midway through the first half. Soon after, the Gophers switched to a zone defense. “They were beating us man-to-man,” Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said, adding that the Gophers weren’t rebounding well at that point. The Buckeyes extended their lead to seven points on a three-point basket by Jon Diebler with 6:15 to play in the half.

The Buckeyes appeared in control at that point, mostly because of talented sophomore swingman Evan Turner who had five rebounds (he would add another before the half was complete) and six points. Two of his baskets came on smooth drives and one on a jumper. However, with Ohio State up 22-15 his running floater from the lane was no good. The Gophers rebounded, and Lawrence Westbrook’s outlet pass hit a streaking Devoe Joseph for a layup, the start of a 16-point run for the Gophers. “We lost composure on both ends,” said Ohio State coach Thad Matta.

Following an Ohio State turnover, Joseph hit a three-pointer to pull the Gophers within two points and cause Motta to call a time out with 4:34 left in the half. Paul Carter then tied the score with two free throws and Devron Bostick, just into the game, drilled a three-pointer for a 25-22 lead. After a media time out Damian Johnson and Jamal Abu-Shamala scored to make the score 29-22 and prompt the Buckeyes to use another timeout. Matta inserted 7-foot freshman B. J. Mullens for extra muscle, but it didn’t help. After Turner missed a shot, Minnesota rebounded, and Johnson fired a pass inside to Colton Iverson, who scored to make it 31-22. William Buford finally broke the run with two free throws with 1:05 left, but Abu-Shamala answered with a three for a 34-24 halftime lead.

Minnesota had nine of its points off its 12 offensive rebounds and held an overall 27-18 edge in rebounding over Ohio State.

Although the Buckeyes shot only 24 percent from the floor in the first half, they came out gunning in the second half, making all of their first three shots, all of which were three-pointers (two by Diebler and one by Jeremie Simmons) to cut the Minnesota lead to 36-33. The then abandoned the zone and, with full-court pressure, forced four turnovers and went on an 11-point run for a 47-33 lead. By the time the Buckeyes were able to close the gap to single digits, the game was in hand for the Gophers.

The Buckeyes were without junior guard David Lighty, who broke a bone in his foot in a December 17 win over Jacksonville and had surgery to repair the break the next day. He is expected to be out six to 12 weeks. Matta, when asked how long Lighty would be gone, replied, “Too long,” adding, “We have to continue to find ways to play without him.”

Evan Turner finished the game with 21 points and eight rebounds, both game highs. Jon Diebler scored 15 points for the Buckeyes, all on three-point shots.

Minnesota, in outrebounding Ohio State 42-30, spread the rebounds out. Damian Johnson led the team with six while scoring 12 points and adding four assists, four steals, and three blocks. Colton Iverson also had four blocked shots. Lawrence Westbrook led the Gophers with 15 points.

”Our kids responded the right way, right type of intensity, right type of physical play you need in the Big Ten,” said Smith.

Notes: The only seniors among the 20 players in the game were Abu-Shamala and Jonathan Williams. Ohio State started the game with one freshman, three sophomores, and one junior. The Gophers had two freshman, one sophomore, and two juniors in their starting lineup. . . . This was the first time the teams have met while being ranked since January 25, 1972, a game best remembered for a horrible brawl that prematurely ended the game, won by Ohio State 50-44.