Basketball Begins in U. S. Bank Stadium
November 30, 2018

U. S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, will host the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball Final Four in 2019, and it had its first experience with basketball on November 30, part of a four-game weekend tournament.

St. Thomas of St. Paul won the first game in the cavernous facility, beating the University of Wisconsin, River Falls 85-70. Senior forward Connor Bair blocked 10 shots and scored 23 points while freshman point guard Anders Nelson had 24 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds.

The crowd was sparse for the first game, which began at 6 p.m., and filled in (the final attendance was announced as 12,357) as the Minnesota Gophers played the Oklahoma State Cowboys three hours late.

Although the setting was unfamiliar, the stadium used a raised floor, similar to what the Gophers have in their regular home, Williams Arena. Minnesota, after struggling through much of the first half, surged ahead late in the period and opened up a lead it never gave up.

The Gophers scored the first baskets, both by Jordan Murphy, for a 5-0 lead before the Cowboys reeled off 13 straight points. Minnesota battled back to eventually tie the game at 25 and then took the took the lead on a basket by Amir Coffey. Oklahoma State came back to tie the game one more time before the Gophers took the lead for good on a three-point play by Gabe Kalscheur.

The Gophers led 45-38 at halftime and opened up an 18-point edge in the second half. The Cowboys came back and got as close as four points late in the game. Minnesota, unlike its opponents, made its free throws as Oklahoma State had to resort to fouling in the final minutes.

Murphy was dominant, scoring 24 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. The Gophers shot 26 for 50 (52 percent) from the field to 42.9 percent (27 for 63) for the Cowboys, who did much of their shooting from behind the arc and were 10 for 19 on three-pointers. Oklahoma state made only 12 of 24 free throws in the game, while Minnesota was 23 for 30.

Daniel Oturu, the Gophers’ other big man, blocked three shots. Isaiah Washington came off the bench to score 15 points and had 4 assists.

Lindy Waters led the Cowboys with 18 points and 8 rebounds.

The Gophers improved to 6-1 in nonconference play and will open their Big Ten schedule on Sunday, at Ohio State.