University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Cruise Past UC Riverside 75-38
12/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota improved to 4-1 with a dominating 75-38 victory over UC Riverside (2-5) this afternoon at Williams Arena. The Gophers scored their largest margin of victory since 2002 and held an opponent to less than 40 points for the first time since 1991. Lawrence McKenzie led Minnesota with 18 points.
Minnesota harrassed the Highlanders into 21 turnovers on the afternoon and limited them to just 30 percent shooting on 14-of-46 from the floor. Five Gophers scored in double figures overall. In addition to McKenzie's 18, Blake Hoffarber added 13 and Damian Johnson scored 12. Jamal Abu-Shamala (11) and Spencer Tollackson (10) also reached double figures. Johnson was a stat sheet filler with seven boards, three blocks and three steals.
Minnesota's defense caused havoc in the first half, forcing 14 Highlander turnovers that Minnesota turned into 20 points. The Gophers had 10 steals including three apiece by Johnson and Hoffarber and added four blocks. After Jelonni Diggs drained a three with 5:22 on the clock to pull UC Riverside within 20-16, the Gophers proceeded to go on a 19-2 run to end the half. Three-point shooting accounted for much of Minnnesota's scoring in the run as Hoffarber made two triples and Johnson and Abu-Shamala each made one. Hoffarber had 10 points in the opening half to lead the Gophers, who led 39-18 at the half.
Minnesota quickly pushed the lead to 30 points at 54-24 on consecutive treys by McKenzie with 13:41 left in the game. Lawrence Westbrook moved the lead to 34 at 60-26 with a layup and Tollackson added a dunk with 7:50 on the clock to give the Gophers a 36-point edge. Riverside was able to trim the Minnesota lead to 29 with 1:31 left but the Gophers scored the final eight points to secure the 75-38 victory.
The Gophers' bench was very productive again, outscoring the opponents' bench in each game this season. Behind 25 points from Johnson and Hoffarber, the Gopher bench outproduced the Highlanders 27-8. McKenzie tied a career-high five three-point field goals while Hoffarber made four. The Gophers were 13-of-23 from behind the arc for the game. Minnesota also held a 38-28 rebounding advantage.
The Gophers' win almost matched a 38-point, 104-66 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 13, 2002. The Gophers last held a team under 40 points on November 27, 1991 when the Gophers defeated Arizona State 69-37 at the Maui Invitational.
The Gophers return to action on Monday evening against North Dakota State. The game tips at 8 p.m. and will be shown live on the Big Ten Network.
