University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Down Northwestern 69-51
2/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Golden Gopher basketball team used an 11-4 second half run to secure its ninth Big Ten victory of the season, downing Northwestern 69-51 Wednesday night at Williams Arena. Junior forward Michael Bauer came off the bench and was a perfect six-of-six from the field and two-of-two from the free throw line for 17 points, as Minnesota moved to within a game of second place in the conference. Bauer also made three three-pointers.
Minnesota is now 13-3 when Bauer reaches double figures. The Gophers are now 16-10 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten, while the Wildcats drop to 16-11, 7-8 in the league.
Minnesota's Travarus Bennett had an outstanding all-around game, scoring 16 points with seven rebounds, six steals and five assists, as nine different Golden Gophers scored in the victory. Bennett tied a career-high with his six steals.
Both teams struggled in the first half as Minnesota took a 26-18 lead into intermission. The Wildcats were coming off a game where they scored 13 first-half points in a 56-41 loss to Illinois. Northwestern did not make a basket in the last 9:15 of the first half. The Wildcats shot 20 percent from the field in the first half, including a paltry 1-of-13 from behind the arc.
Minnesota improved its shooting in the second half, making 15-of-25 shots including five of its eight from three point range. The Golden Gophers improved to 10-0 when shooting 50 percent from the field or better.
The Gophers were tremendous on defense, blocking 11 shots. It was the most in Big Ten game since blocking 12 versus Ohio State on Jan. 16, 1976. Rick Rickert had five blocks, while Jerry Holman had four.
Minnesota wraps up the regular season on Sunday at 3 p.m., taking on 15th-ranked Illinois at Williams Arena. The game will be nationally televised on CBS.
Post-Game Notes Minnesota 69, Northwestern 51 February 27, 2002 Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minn. Attendance: 13,018 Minnesota leads the all-time series with Northwestern 90-52. Minnesota also leads the series in Minneapolis 52-17. (including vacated games). Minnesota improved to 10-0 when shooting 50 percent or better. Minnesota won for just the second time this season when scoring fewer than 70 points. It is 2-9 when scoring fewer than 70. Minnesota's 11 blocks is the most since swatting 12 against UNC-Wilmington on 12/4. It's the most in a Big Ten contest since blocking 12 against Ohio State on 1/26/76. Northwestern's 51 points is the fewest Minnesota has allowed in Big Ten action this season. Travarus Bennett</ a> tied a career-high with six steals. Bennett scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 14th time in his career. With six steals, Bennett moved into fifth place all-time on the single-season list (57). He moved into third all-time for steals in Big Ten games only with 34. Bennett also had a season-high five assists. Dusty Rychart recorded his 700th career rebound in the first half. Michael Bauer scored in double figures for the 16th time this season and the 31st time in his career. He was perfect from the field (5-5 FG, 3-3 3-pt FG, 2-2 FT). Rick Rickert tied a career-high with five blocks. Jerry Holman tied a career-high with four blocks. Kevin Burleson moved into fifth all-time on the single-season list with 132 assists. Minnesota limited Northwestern to an opponent season-low field goal percentage of 28.3 percent. Minnesota improved to 13-3 when Bauer scores in double-digits. Minnesota's 39 rebounds is the best total since grabbing 41 against Wisconsin (1/16). The 28 defensive rebounds is the second-best total this season. Minnesota has 136 blocks on the season after recording just 120 last year. The season record is 154. Minnesota won a game for the first time this season when only two players scored in double figures. Northwestern went the final 9:15 of the first half without a field goal.
