University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHERS DROP EASTERN WASHINGTON 86-68 AT WILLIAMS ARENA
11/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota men's basketball team downed the Eastern Washington University Eagles 86-68 tonight in front of 12,533 fans at Williams Arena as the Golden Gophers shot a stellar 54.5 percent from the field. Junior Michael Bauer led the Maroon and Gold with 17 points. Junior Jerry Holman and freshman Rick Rickert were also key with 14-point efforts. Rickert added a game- and career-high 10 rebounds and five blocks in the drubbing of the Eagles.
It was a game of steady improvement for the Golden Gophers as Minnesota (3-0) continually built on its early lead to push the gap to a high of 26 points at one point. Gold Country came out of the gate on fire, posting a 9-0 lead on EWU (2-2) in the first two minutes. The Eagles closed the gap a number of times, but Minnesota never relinquished the lead.
The Maroon and Gold led 41-32 at the break. Minnesota shot an impressive 57 percent in the first half, led by Rickert's 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting. Meanwhile, EWU scored on only 37.5 percent of its shots from the floor. Alvin Snow led all scorers in the opening stanza, scoring 12 with his four three-pointers. Snow ended the game with 15 points.
The Golden Gophers continued to build on its lead in the second half, going on numerous runs to ensure the victory. Although Minnesota's field goal shooting slumped slightly in the second half, Gold Country shot 54.5 percent (6-11) from behind the arc. For the game, the Golden Gophers were 9-of-21 (.429) from three-point range.
With their 14 points each, Rickert and Holman now scored in double figures in each of the three games this season. Rickert's five blocks were the most for a Golden Gopher since Joel Pryzbilla had six on Feb. 5, 2000. Bauer, with his 17 points, has led Minnesota in scoring in all three games this year.
The Golden Gophers are next in action Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Wake Forest in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
