Purdue Holds off Gophers
January 27, 2016

The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team played a home game Wednesday night, and the result was just another sad story.

Although the Gophers beat the spread, the team again fell to defeat, 68-64, at the hands of the taller, more talented Purdue Boilermakers. It was the ninth straight conference loss for Minnesota (10th overall) and served to only prolong the agony for those few still loyal to the program.

Although the Boilers were missing starters Kendall Stephens and Caleb Swanigan, Purdue had enough firepower to put down the Gophers. After a basket by Dupree McBrayer made it 2-0, the Boilermakers took control of the game and held it throughout. A Vince Edwards basket topped a Purdue run, and the Gophers were down by 9 to 2.

Minnesota could not muster enough points to take the lead, and the Gophers were behind by 33 to 26 at halftime. The 6-8 Edwards was scoring at will and had 14 points by the period’s end.

The Golden Gophers displayed signs of life in the second half, and a basket by Charles Buggs put them behind 37-34, but soon it was 49-39 after a field goal by the Boilers’ Johnny Hill. Minnesota scratched away and mounted a few drives, but Purdue coolly and efficiently held the Gophers back. A basket by Nate Mason drew the Gophers to within 53-52 with seven and one-half minutes left to go in the game, but a pair of Edwards free throws negated that. The lead stretched to 62-54 with four minutes left on an Edwards three-point basket. From there on in, the Boilermakers were able to quell any Gopher comeback efforts.

Minnesota displayed an uncanny lack of ability at the free throw line (11 made out of 21 shots) as well as inept rebounding (Purdue had 39 boards, Minnesota 28). In fact, the Gophers managed only four offensive rebounds against their taller foes.

Edwards finished with 24 points, followed by A.J. Hammonds with 16.

Mason led the Gophers with 15 points, followed by 13 from McBrayer and 12 from Jordan Murphy.

“We have to figure out how to win close games,” Minnesota coach Richard Pitino lamented after the game. “The free-throw line really hurt us.”

When asked about the source of the free-throw problems, Pitino responded, “You can’t simulate game situations in practice sessions.”

Nevertheless, Pitino said this year’s Gophers were “getting better, but I’m sounding like a broken record.” Broken being the key word.