Gophers Face Central Michigan on Saturday Night at Williams Arena

Gophers vs. Central Michigan
The Gophers and Chippewas are meeting for the second time in each school’s history. Minnesota won the only other meeting in 2004, scoring a 77-63 victory at Williams Arena. JeffHagen scored a career-high 21 points to lead Minnesota, who went on an 18-0 second half run to ice the win.

Central Michigan is led by senior guard Giordan Watson, who comes to Williams Arena averaging 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assits per game. The Chippewas are 0-3 having dropped games to Missouri (87-76), Central Missouri(75-70) and Niagara (79-73).

Minnesota/Iowa State Notes
Minnesota’s victory over Iowa State was the Gophers first non-conference road victory since Dec. 5, 2005 vs. Arizona State. It also ended a four-game raod losing streak.
Senior Spencer Tollackson is averaging 23 ppg against Iowa State in Career (2 games), his highest average against any opponent.
Tollackson recorded his seventh career 20-point game and his 26th game in double figures.
The Minnesota bench outscored Iowa State’s bench 30-1, led by Lawrence McKenzie with 20.
McKenzie tied a career high with five three-point field goals, the fifth time he has done so in his career.
It was McKenzie’s 10th career 20-point game and his 53rd game in double figures.
Dan Coleman scored in double figures for the 50th time in career, finishing with 10 points.
Coleman recorded multiple blocks in a game for the 22nd time in his career.
AlNolen’s five steals are the most in a game since Adam Boone recorded five against Wisconsin (Jan. 10, 2006).

Tubby Against the Mid-American Conference
Tubby Smith has never faced a Central Michigan team as a head coach but has an overall record of 6-0 against other MAC opponents.

School - Record
Akron - 0-0
Ball State - 1-0 (w/Kentucky)
Bowling Green - 0-0
Central Michigan - 0-0
Eastern Michigan - 0-0
Miami (Ohio) - 2-0 ( w/Kentucky)
Ohio - 3-0 (w/Kentucky)
Toledo -0

Gophers AgaInst the Mid-American Conference
Minnesota is 10-2 all-time against teams currently in the Mid-American Conference, having played all eight schools at least once.

School - Record (Last Played)
Akron - 1-0 (1991)
Ball State - 1-1 (1988)
Bowling Green - 2-0 (1980)
Central Michigan - 1-0 (2004)
Eastern Michigan - 1-0 (1986)
Miami (Ohio) - 1-0 (1961)
Ohio - 2-0 (1967)
Toledo - 1-1 (1989)

Johnson has Career Night
Minnesota sophomore Damian Johnson (Thibodaux, La.) came off the bench for the Gophers in the season opener against Army (11/10) and established himself early with a put-back dunk in the first half. Johnson would finsh with career highs in points (12), rebounds (8), blocks (4) and steals (4).

Lighting up the Scoreboard
The 84 points scored by the Gophers in the season opener against Army(11/10) were the most points scored by the locals since a 85-79 overtime victory over Arizona State on Dec. 5, 2005. It was also the most points scored in a season opener since Minnesota defeated UNC-Asheville 87-81 on Nov. 24, 2002.

Each New Season
The University of Minnesota men’s basketball program has an all-time record of 85-22 in season opening contests, dating back to a victory over Company A in 1896 by a score of 5-4. The Gophers current win streak in season openers stands at 10 (1992-93, 1999-2007) following the 2007-08 season opening victory over Army.

Coleman on the Charts
Senior Dan Coleman is on pace to join several Minnesota career record lists. He needs just 51 points to become the 34th player in school history to record 1,000 career points and 74 rebounds to amass 500 boards in his career. He will become just the 17th Gopher player with 1,000 points and 500 boards in his career. Michael Bauer was the last Gopher to join the club, reaching the milestone in 2004. Also, Coleman has 76 career blocks, just 17 shy of Minnesota’s top-10.

McKenzie Sets Marks
Minnesota senior guard Lawrence McKenzie set Golden Gopher season marks for three-pointers made and attempted during his junior campaign in 2006-07. McKenzie finished the year with 78 three-points made and 207 three-point attempts, surpassing Michael Bauer’s former records of 71 threes made and 190 attempted in 2002-03. McKenzie also matched Bauer’s Big Ten season total of 39 three-pointers made and set the three-pointers attempted record in a Big Ten season with 203 attempts.

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