Austin Hollins Reaches Milestone in Leading Gophers Past South Dakota State
December 10, 2013

Austin Hollins turned it on late in the second half to help the Minnesota Gophers overcome a sluggish start and beat the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 75-59. In the process the junior swingman passed 1,000 in career points, finishing the game with 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, 5 of them on the offensive side.

The Gophers connected on a series of three-pointers against the South Dakota State zone early in the game and opened a 15-9 lead. However, the score was 23-23 with about six minutes remaining in the first half. At this point the Jackrabbits were outshooting the Gophers and were about even on the boards.

Hollins then went on a run, scoring and grabbing missed shots, and Minnesota had a 36-28 lead at halftime. Hollins finished the half with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Among his second-half points was a baseline drive for a basket that put him past 1,000 career points.

Andre Hollins also came into the game with a shot at 1,000 points but scored only 8, on 3 for 11 shooting from the field, leaving him 5 short. Andre did have a game-high 8 assists as the Gophers had 21 assists on their 27 baskets.

“He was awesome,” said coach Rick Pitino of Austin Hollins. “I think when people think about the face of the program they say it is Andre Hollins, but I think we have two faces and that is Andre and Austin Hollins. We are going to go as far as they take us. Austin Hollins is a tremendous player, and he is such an easy player to coach, it is almost disturbing.”

Austin Hollins was also free of turnovers and a game that was clean in that category. The Jackrabbits turned the ball over only nine times and the Gophers seven.

For South Dakota State senior forward Jordan Dykstra had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Elliott Eliason of the Gophers also had 12 rebounds to go with 10 points.

Though the Gophers eventually pulled away from an inferior opponent, Pitino said the team’s defense still needs to catch up to the offense. “I think our zone has to get better. We gave up a couple of threes at the end of the game that we do not like to give up.”

Minnesota now has 10 days off and will face Nebraska-Omaha on December 20. One more nonconference game will follow that before the Gophers open their Big Ten schedule January 2 against Michigan.