University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Racks Up 45-Point Win Over Nicholls State
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Minnesota never trailed en route to a dominating 77-32 victory over Nicholls State (4-9) in the opening game of the Duel in the Desert at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas this evening. The Gophers improved to 9-1 on the year, matching its win total from all of last season.
The Gophers used one of the best defensive efforts in school history to pick up the win. They forced 30 Colonel turnovers and allowed just 11 made field goals. Nicholls State managed just 25 percent shooting from the floor on 11-of-44. The 32 points allowed is the fewest in 56 years, matching a 32-26 loss to Indiana on January 27, 1951.
Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week continued his strong play by pacing Minnesota with 14 points. Lawrence McKenzie and Blake Hoffarber each scored 13 while Lawrence Westbrook added 11.
The 45-point victory is the largest since a 116-48 drubbing of Rider on January 3, 1990. The Gophers also posted their fourth win over 30 points or more, the most since winning five by more than 30 in 1991-92.
The Gophers quickly gave themselves a comfortable lead. With a 9-5 lead and 14:27 on the clock, Hoffarber began a 16-0 run with a three-pointer. With 11:18 to go, Coleman hit a jumper to start a stretch of six straight points by the senior and wrapped the Gopher run and gave Minnesota a 25-5 lead with 10:08 to go. Gil Verner finally ended the run with a trey, trimming Minnesota’s lead to 17 but McKenzie hit a three-pointer and Westbrook scored five straight points to put the Gophers up 33-8. After five straight Nicholls State points, Hoffarber made a fastbreak layup with a minute left to give Minnesota a 41-15 halftime lead, its largest at the break this season.
Nicholls State came out slinging in the second half with a couple of quick baskets, trimming Minnesota’s lead to 23 make the score 45-22. However, the Gophers quickly put the foot back on the gas and scored the next 13 points to put the game away. McKenzie capped the run with two free throws with 11:22 remaining and Minnesota lead 58-22. The lead swelled to 39 on a dunk by Al Nolen with 4:30 left. A trey by Travis Busch pushed the Gopher lead to 48 at 75-27 with 1:57 remaining.
Minnesota shot 53.7 percent from the floor on 29-of-54 from the floor and made 7-of-18 three-pointers. Minnesota also held a 39-26 rebounding advantage.
The Gophers face Kennesaw State tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. CST. The game can be heard on the Gopher Radio Network.
POSTGAME NOTES
The 32 points allowed is the fewest in 56 years, matching a 32-26 loss to Indiana on January 27, 1951.
The 45-point victory is the largest since a 116-48 drubbing of Rider on January 3, 1990. The Gophers also posted their fourth win over 30 points or more, the most since winning five by more than 30 in 1991-92.
The win was the largest by a Tubby Smith coached team since Kentucky beat William & Mary 92-47 in 2004.
Minnesota is 4-0 all-time against Southland Conference teams.
With 14 points, Dan Coleman has 1,066 points in his career, moving him into 29th on Minnesota's all-time list. Coleman scored in double figures for the seventh time this season and the 55th time in his career.
Lawrence McKenzie reached double figures for the seventh time this season and the 59th time in his career.
Lawrence Westbrook reached double figures scoring for the fourth time this season and the sixth time in his career.
Travis Busch saw action for the first time since Nov. 20 against Iowa State. He scored six points in five minutes off the bench.
Minnesota's bench has outscored its opponent in each game this season. The Gophers held a 30-10 edge this evening.
Minnesota forced 30 turnovers, the most by a Gopher opponent this season.
The Gophers had 15 steals, giving them 33 over the last two games.
