University of Minnesota Athletics
MBB: Gophers Defeat Southwest Minnesota State In Exhibition
11/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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The University of Minnesota men's basketball team kicked off the 2005-06 season with a 59-50 exhibition victory over Southwest Minnesota State this afternoon at Williams Arena. Vincent Grier scored 18 points and Maurice Hargrow added 16 to lead the Gophers.
The Gophers battled to shake off the rust in the first half, falling behind 16-15 with 7:53 to go but Minnesota rallied with a 16-5 run to end the half, taking a 32-20 lead into the lockerroom. The Gophers forced 12 Mustang turnovers and limited them to 32 percent shooting in the half. Hargrow led all scorers with 10 in the stanza.
The Gophers lead ballooned to 20 with 10:02 left in the game on a Hargrow driving layup and Minnesota led 46-26. However, the scrappy Mustangs trimmed the deficit to 12 at 50-38 on a Andy Wiersma basket. Minnesota secured the win on a Hargrow dunk with 2: 31 remaining that give the Gophers a 57-40 lead.
Nine Gophers got into the scoring column, including Spencer Tollackson, who added six points. Adam Boone dished out seven assists and scored five points while J'son Stamper led the Gophers with seven rebounds.
The Mustangs were led by Chad Orum, who scored 13 points before fouling out. Jeremy VanKlompeburg added a game-high eight rebounds.
The Gophers return to exhibition play on Thursday, November 10 when they host Minnesota-Duluth at 7 p.m.
Post-game comments from Coach Monson and various players
Head coach Dan Monson
Opening Statement
“The purpose of these games is to find out what you need to work on and we certainly accomplished that, to a scary level. There wasn’t any area that is right now at the level we need to be to compete in the Big Ten. We’ve got a little bit of time, but we had better face reality and get to work because we’ve got a lot to do.
“I was most concerned defensively. I don’t think I’ve ever been as disappointed with a team that gave up 50 (points), ever. It was how we gave up the 50. They missed a lot of good shots that I think they were a little anxious on. We didn’t dictate their shots all game. They had a lot of open looks that didn’t go in.
“I was disappointed in the second half. We played the scoreboard instead of getting better and these games are not about the scoreboard. They’re about getting better. As we substituted we had a lot of break downs in the last 8-10 minutes. They scored almost half their points in the last eight minutes.
“Offensively we haven’t worked as much. And subbing the way we did, that was going to cause some of (disruptions). But it didn’t need to cause such a poor defensive performance.
“Our flow at either end was not (good.) I didn’t think we played well together offensively or defensively. And comparing it to last year, that’s what we did do. We played off of each other on both ends of the court.”
On the performance of the freshmen:
“I don’t think any of them are ready to be honest with you. I’m really concerned about our depth. I don’t think anybody stepped up and understood the intensity and the level that we have to play at. They made me so mad I wanted to leave them in longer and longer, so that we had plenty of film to watch.”
On the performance of returning seniors Adam Boone and Maurice Hargrow:
“I thought Moe and Adam were fine. They came out and looked pretty relaxed and got into the flow personally, but again, I don’t look at the individual. I thought we were very disjointed as a team.”
Sophomore center Spencer Tollackson
On the team’s performance:
“We do need to look at the things we did wrong, but there were so many things. We set specific goals for ourselves that we really didn’t achieve tonight. And I think that’s what everyone is down about, both defensively and offensively.
On specifically what needs improvement:
"The last nine minutes they had 21 out of their 50 (points.) That’s almost half their points, so we have to tighten up the last nine minutes of the game because better teams will hit those shots."
Senior guard Vincent Grier
On the team’s performance:
“We’ve got to continue to get better. We got to see the freshman play and got to see what we need to work on. We just need to get better on our defense. It’ll get better with time and practice.
On personal expectations for the game:
“I thought we were going to come out with a lot of intensity. We did at times, but there were a lot of substitutions. We can’t make excuses though. We’ve just got to continue to get better everyday. So hopefully when the season starts we won’t make those mistakes.”
Senior guard Moe Hargrow
On his return to game action:
“I was just happy to be out there with my uniform on with some actual fans and real referees. It was good to be out there with the yellow jersey on, playing at home.”
On the team’s performance:
“It’s a step. We’ve got to start somewhere. Tonight is a spot to start from. There were a lot of good things and a lot of bad things, but I guess that’s what the first game is about. It’s about seeing what you need to work on and making those strides for the end of the season.”
On positives from the game:
“There were definitely some spurts where we played well when we had the lineups that will play out there. Did we sustain it? Maybe not, but we’ve got more than 20 games to play, so hopefully games 10-15 will be a different outcome.”
On the play of the freshmen:
“It’s their first time on this kind of a stage, so you really can’t expect much. They’ll grown and learn. And I’m sure the next outing they’ll do better."
