University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Fall To UALR 67-66
12/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Lawrence McKenzie and Spencer Tollackson combined for 45 points but Minnesota (4-7) fell to Arkansas-Little Rock (5-5) this afternoon at Williams Arena. The Gophers were unable to overcome a huge 43-16 rebounding deficit that led to 17 UALR second chance points.
Despite the rebounding deficit, the Gophers took a 66-65 lead with 12 seconds remaining after Lawrence McKenzie grabbed his own rebound after missing a driving layup and was fouled by Byron Ray. McKenzie made both free throws to give Minnesota its first lead since halftime. The Trojans answered when Steven Moore drove the length of the court and made a 5-foot runner in the lane with 4.3 seconds left giving the Gophers the final possession down by one. Limar Wilson took the inbounds passed and raced the distance of the court and had layup that rolled off the rim but he was fouled by De'Andre Eggins with 0.7 seconds on the clock. Wilson missed both free throws to give the Trojans their second win over a Big Ten team in the program's history.
The Gophers were trailing 65-59 with 2:26 left when the Tollackson made a basket to trim the deficit to four. After a Trojan turnover, McKenzie drained a three-pointer from the right wing to pull Minnesota to within one at 65-64. UALR had two chances to push the lead but Terrance Akins and Eggins missed consecutive threes to give the Gophers the ball where McKenzie proceeded to take the lead with 12 seconds left.
UALR opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 41-36 lead with 17:27 left. The Trojan lead expanded to a game-high eight points on four occasions, including 47-35 on a Rashad Moss jumper with 15:19 left. The Gophers trimmed the deficit to three on a three-point play by Dan Coleman with 13:51 left. UALR brought the lead back to eight on a Moss basket with 11:12 to go at 52-44. UALR took a seven-point lead at 61-54 with on an Eggins trey with 5:41 remaining.
The Gophers shot a solid 50 percent from the floor on 23-of-46 and had just nine turnovers but the rebounding deficit was too much. UALR nabbed 18 offensive rebounds, more than the Gophers overall total of 16 for the game. Minnesota was able to force 18 Trojan turnovers that led to 15 Gopher points.
With the game tied at 10-10 in the first half, UALR used an 8-0 run to lead by eight wtih 11:49 left. Minnesota scored the next seven capped by a Coleman trey to trail 18-17 with 10:26 remaining. UALR pushed the lead back to six at 23-17 but the Gophers fought back within one on two Coleman free throws to make the score 29-28 with 4:23 on the clock. Minnesota finally tied the score at 33-33 on a McKenzie three with 2:06 remaining. Another McKenzie trey gave Minnesota a 36-34 halftime lead.
McKenzie scored a game-high 24 for Minnesota while Tollackson added 21. Coleman scored 17 points as well but the rest of the Gophers combined for just four points. UALR was led by Rashad Jennings-Jones with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lekheythan Malone and Moss each added 11.
Minnesota returns to action against UCF at Williams Arena on Tuesday, December 12 at 7 p.m.
