Terriers No Match for Gophers
November 21, 2013

Prior to the start of the 2013-14 basketball season, Wofford basketball coach Mike Young replaced all of his assistant coaches. Judging from what happened at Williams Arena on November 21, Young would have done better to replace his roster of active players.

The Wofford Terriers put up little resistance while facing the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, falling behind 24-2 in the first half and watching Minnesota shoot with 70 percent accuracy from the field.

Unheralded Gopher forward Oto Osenieks played the game of his life against the Terriers, scoring in double figures before the period was half over. He finished with a career-high 14 points in Minnesota’s 79-57 win. Due to the injuries and suspension of others, the slender 6-8 Latvian also was, at times, forced into playing the pivot, something he acknowledged he’d never done before.

Osenieks was needed at the center position to relieve Elliot Eliason, who was enjoying himself while racking up his second career double-double with 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds. He also was credited with seven blocked shots.

The Gophers had a short bench with Mo Walker suspended and sixth-man Joey King out with a broken jaw sustained against Coastal Carolina. As a result, Malik Smith logged in 20 minutes of court time, filling in at both guard and forward positions.

Infrequently used Tubby Smith recruits Maverick Ahanmisi, Wally Ellenson, and Charles “Lightening” Buggs also were pressed into action by coach Richard Pitino.

In addition to Oseniecks and Eliason, starters Austin Hollins, DeAndre Mathieu scored 18, 10, and seven points, respectively. Smith also had seven.

For the game, Minnesota outshot Wofford by 50 percent to 31 percent, and that told the story of the game. The Gophers built an overwhelming 50-24 lead at halftime.

As the game drew to a close, statisticians noted that the Terriers had nearly out-rebounded Minnesota with 35 boards. Minnesota pulled down 36 rebounds. Whether or not the Wofford game served as a needed tune-up for the Maui Invitational and ninth-ranked Syracuse on November 25 remains to be seen.