University of Minnesota Athletics
UNLV Deals Minnesota Second Loss Of Season, 81-64
12/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UNLV (11-3) snapped Minnesota's seven-game winning streak, beating the Gophers 81-64 this evening in the final game of the Duel in the Desert at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The Runnin' Rebels held Minnesota to 39 percent shooting and drained 11 three-pointers to pick up the win. The Gophers wrapped up the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 10-2 record, their best since 2000-01.
Minnesota finished the tournament with a 2-1 record while Dan Coleman and Lawrence McKenzie were named to the all-tournament team.
UNLV had a fine shooting night in every facet. The Rebels made 20-24 free throws and 11-22 three-pointers. Overall, UNLV shot 46 percent on 25-54 from the floor. The Gophers made just 10-16 free throws and shot 39 percent for the game but did hold a 38-34 rebounding edge including a 15-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Freshman Blake Hoffarber led the Gophers with 13 points while Coleman had 10 points and eight rebounds.
After falling behind by a season-high 14 points at halftime (42-28), Minnesota scored first after the break on a jumper by Lawrence Westbrook. Spencer Tollackson made 1-of-2 from the free throw line to pull the Gophers within 11 at 42-31 but Minnesota did not get any closer the rest of the game. Curtis Terry drained a three with 18:50 on the clock. The Gophers had two opportunities on the other end but couldn't convert and Corey Bailey made a layup for the Rebels to give them a 16-point lead. With 16:08 on the clock, Joe Darger hit a trey to push the UNLV lead to 50-31. Wink Adams added a layup to finish the 10-0 UNLV run and the Rebels led 52-31 with 15:29 to go. Minnesota was unable to mount a serious run the rest of the way. It got two free throws from McKenzie with 10:20 left to pull within 59-42 but the Rebels responded with four straight points. A Coleman basket with 8:22 to got the Gophers within 15 at 62-47 but they were unable to close the gap any further.
The Gophers started slowly, not getting on the scoreboard until Hoffarber hit a trey with 15:13 on the clock, ending UNLV's 8-0 run to start the game. Three free throws by Adams and a basket by Bailey gave the Rebels their first double-digit lead of the game at 13-3 with 14:20 on the clock. Hoffarber nailed his second three of the half with 12:24 to go and brought the Gophers back within six at 16-10. Kevin Payton added a basket on the Gophers' next possession to pull within just four points. However, the Gophers struggled to score consistently and the Rebels too advantage, opening a 34-19 lead. Al Nolen hit a corner three to get the Gophers within 12. Hoffarber and McKenzie hit treys in the final 1:22 but UNLV responded with threes by Adams and Curtis Terry.
Adams led UNLV with 20 points while Terry and Matt Shaw each scored 14. Shaw also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Adams was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Minnesota begins the Big Ten portion of its schedule on Saturday, January 5 when it travels to Michigan State. The 7 p.m. game will be aired on the Big Ten Network.
