University of Minnesota Athletics
McKenzie and Coleman Lead Gophers Over Long Island
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Blackbirds pushed the pace early on and used a 9-0 run to take a 12-7 five minutes into the first half. The Gophers responded with a 14-2 run over a six minute stretch to pull out to a 24-16 lead. McKenzie got Minnesota rolling with one of his three treys in the first half as he and Coleman combined to score 10 points during the run. Coleman tied the game at 14 apiece on a jumper from the left wing, and McKenzie hit another three to give the Gophers a 17-14 lead. Later, a three by Coleman made it 22-16, and a two-handed flush by Brandon Smith on a fast break made it 24-16 with just under eight minutes to play in the half.
Long Island closed to within six points with two minutes remaining, but the Gophers went into halftime up 37-29. McKenzie led the Gophers with 14 points in the half while Coleman had 10.
Long Island came out energized after the break and opened the half with four straight points to Minnesota's lead to 37-33. After a timeout, the Gophers matched the Blackbirds' energy and responded by scoring the next five and pushed the lead back to 10 on back-to-back threes by McKenzie and Coleman.
Both teams went cold from the floor in the middle of the second half. The Gophers went over seven minutes without a field goal before Limar Wilson made a driving layup with 7:44 remaining, but a solid defensive effort by Minnesota prevented LIU from getting any closer than nine, as the Blackbirds made only one shot from the floor during the drought.
McKenzie pushed Minnesota's lead to 14 with just under three minutes remaining, and Coleman scored eight of the final 10 points as the Gophers largest lead of the game came with the final score of 70-54.
The Gophers will next be in action on Tuesday, Nov. 21 when they host Iowa State at Williams Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
