Gophers Win Fourth at Home
February 7, 2015
The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team began the second half of its game with Purdue at Williams Arena with a sparkling 14-0 run, then withstood a barrage of Boilermaker three-point baskets to eke out a 62-58 win.
When Carlos Morris made good on layup, it gave the Gophers a 48-33 lead with just over half of the period to play. The lead was still 58-49 when three-point baskets by Purdue’s Kendall Stephens and Jon Octeus moved the Boilers to within 60-58 with only a minute left in the contest. Minnesota fans were holding their breaths. Left alone, Purdue bombers (Stephens, Octeus, Vince Edwards, Dakota Mathias, and J.T. Thompson) missed six three-point attempts in the first half but canned seven of nine in the stretch run of the second.
When the Gophers’ DeAndre Mathieu missed the front end on a one-and-one free throw shot row chance, Purdue had the opportunity to win or a tie, but Maurice Walker thwarted Edwards’ shot attempt, and Andre Hollins was fouled with four seconds remaining. Hollins sank both free throws for the final margin of victory.
“Purdue hit some ridiculous threes,” Minnesota coach Richard Pitino said at the end. But he acknowledged that defense won the game. “Our pressure defense at the start of the second half was the best of the year. It changed the way the game was going.” For the game, the Boilermakers turned the ball over 23 times for 26 Minnesota points.
“I thought we came out casual at the start of the second half,” observed Boilermaker coach Matt Painter. “We turned the ball over too much. Everyone struggled at holding on to the ball. For 10 minutes, no one could take care of the ball.”
About the three-point baskets, Painter allowed as they “made the game closer,” but some “didn’t deserve to go in.”
Coming off a week’s rest, Minnesota looked sluggish in the first half, 31-27. A 21-14 lead evaporated, and the Gophers appeared lost. The second half was a different story.
“I didn’t coach a very good offensive game,” Pitino admitted. “I told DeAndre [Mathieu] to take charge of the defense in the second half. We took a lot of chances, but they worked. Our guys fed off that. It’s easier to take chances when you’re playing at home.”
At home (Williams Arena) is where the Gophers are very good. On the road is where they play like donkeys. Upcoming is a road game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
“We have to steal one on the road,” said Pitino. It won’t come against the Hawkeyes. Nor is it likely in upcoming games in Bloomington, Madison, and East Lansing.