Gophers Wrap Up Nonconference Schedule with Another Blowout
December 23, 2009
The Minnesota Gophers wrapped up their nonconference schedule with a 92-62 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Williams Arena. Minnesota is now 9-3. Eight of the games were at home, all wins with the margin of victory ranging from 23 to 41 (not counting a pair of exhibition victories that were won by gaps of 49 and 67 points).
The win over the Jackrabbits was more of the same in terms of what fans have been accustomed to seeing: balanced scoring (six players in double figures), lots of assists (25 on 37 field goals), and a few highlights, including Devoe Joseph’s alley-oop pass to Rodney Williams at the end of the first half. The pass missed its mark, instead falling through the hoop for a three-pointer that sent Minnesota into the locker room with a 51-31 lead.
Joseph earlier had scored three straight baskets after the Gophers had fallen behind 20-14. Joseph answered a three-point basket by Garrett Callahan (one of six three-pointers by the Jackrabbits’ senior guard, who finished with 25 points) by popping a jumper to cut the lead to 20-16. After Clint Sargent missed a three-pointer, Joseph scored on a layup. Rodney Williams then stole the ball from Nate Wolters and fed Joseph with a nice lead pass. Joseph layed it in to tie the game.
The Gophers shot 62.9 percent from the field in the first half and finished the game by making 37 of 68 shots from the field, including 7 of 20 three-points. Minnesota blocked nine shots, three each by Damian Johnson, Ralph Sampson, and Williams, and had 16 steals.
“It all starts with defense,” said Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. “That’s been about guys talking and communicating. We haven’t really had many breakdowns defensively, just some issues in transition early. We made some adjustments and took care of those. I think we’re winning because we are playing extremely good defense and that’s leading to transition scoring.”
Blake Hoffarber led Minnesota scorers with 16 points. Al Nolen had six assists.