Rutgers Falls to Gophers
December 3, 2017

Minnesota unleashed a three-headed monster of Nate Mason, Jordan Murphy, and Reggie Lynch to eventually break the will of a stubborn visiting Rutgers Sunday and emerge an 89-67 victor.

Mason was on fire early and finished with four three-point baskets and 26 points. Murphy shook off early foul trouble and had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Lynch was an intimidating presence in the middle, blocking five shots and scoring 16 points.

Rutgers has become the Big Ten’s new Northwestern, the team least likely to succeed. Added to the conference in an attempt to attract the vast New York City market, Rutgers has failed on the court, going 2-16, 1-17, and 3-15 since the inaugural 2014-2015 season.

Chasing the New York market also has led the Big Ten to schedule its annual tournament early at Madison Square Garden. To accommodate this arrangement, the league was forced to schedule a week’s worth of Big Ten games in December. Hence the appearance of the Scarlet Knights at Williams Arena on December 3.

Rutgers aims to be more competitive this year under second year coach Steve Pikiell, known as the man who turned things around at Stony Brook. And the Knights cane out against the Gophers with early fire. Deshawn Freeman got an easy layup for a 7-6 Rutgers lead, but that was about it. Mason shot the Gophers into the lead, and Minnesota held it, although the Scarlets proved pesky, hanging on three to five points behind.

A Murphy dunk pushed the lead to 31-21, and a Lynch dunk made the halftime score 43-33.

The second half started with a successful two-point basket by Mamadou Doucoure, but Rutgers could never get closer than eight points down. A Murphy free throw (he had a dozen during the night) made it 74-59, and the Scarlet Knights packed it in.

Doucoure led Rutgers with 13 points. Geo Baker followed with 12. Both teams turned the ball over 14 times, bur Minnesota got 19 points off of turnovers to eight for Rutgers.

The game marked the return of DuPree McBrayer to Minnesota’s starting lineup but with a heavily wrapped right leg that hampered his movement somewhat. He scored seven points in 25 minutes of play.

“Rutgers is a team that makes you look ugly at times,” said Minnesota coach Richard Pitino after the game. Rutgers was physical, and that surprised us. But you have to win your conference home games.”

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