Gophers Pull Away from Jackrabbits for 85-73 Win
December 22, 2010

Minnesota and South Dakota State wrapped up their nonconference schedules at Williams Arena with the Gophers coming away with an 85-73 win. As in some of its other nonconference games, Minnesota struggled early and often. “We knew it would be a struggle,” said Minnesota coach Tubby Smith. “It was the first game we played in eight days, and guys have been going through exams. Tonight we had our big guys get in foul trouble because they had some quick forwards and they really did a good job breaking us down off the dribble. We got in foul trouble because we were out of position, not sliding our feet.”

The Jackrabbits held a 9-8 lead when Al Nolen checked in for the Gophers with just over 15 minutes to play in the first half. Nolen had missed the last five games with a stress reaction in his right foot, and the Gophers had missed his defense, particularly against 3-point-shooting teams. However, even with Nolen on the floor the Jackrabbits popped two more three-pointers along with a two-point field goal for a 17-8 lead.

Minnesota came back, Colton Iverson sinking two free throws and Nolen finding a Austin Hollins with a nice bounce pass to cut the lead to five. The Gophers played better defense, forcing turnovers and bad shots and went into the locker room with a 34-29 lead.

Nate Wolters, a sophomore who played at St. Cloud Tech High School, did most of the damage for South Dakota State in the first half, scoring 14 points although he also had 5 of the Jackrabbits’ 11 turnovers to that point. Minnesota shot nearly 52 percent from the field in the first half with Rodney Williams making 4 of 5 shots for 8 points.

“We knew we had to rebound with them and we did,” said South Dakota State coach Scott Nagy. “I thought our kids played hard. We should have been ahead at half and we just had some kids who were kind of out of it coming on the big stage.”

Minnesota built a 39-29 lead early in the second half with Trevor Mbakwe on and off the court as he got his third foul early in the half and his fourth with 8:25 to play. Clint Sargent then hit his fourth three-pointer of the game to put the Jackrabbits in front 60-59, but Colton Iverson scored twice to give the Gophers a 3-point lead only to have Sargent tie it with another 3-pointer.

The teams exchanged baskets and free throws before Nolen put the Gophers ahead to stay with a pair of free throws with 6:30 left. Iverson, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, hit a turnaround jumper with Jordan Dykstra in his face, and the Gophers continued to pull away, scoring 51 points in the second half.

Sargent led all players with 23 points while Wolters was held to 2 points in the second half to finish with 16. Iverson and Devoe Joseph led the Gophers with 15 points.

The Gophers will enter the Big Ten season with an 11-1 record while the Jackrabbits, who have already won a Summit League game, are 8-4.