Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. South Dakota State - University of Minnesota Athletics

Welcome to tonight's game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-0), and the JackRabbits of South Dakota State University (4-5) at The Barn. Follow along, as we give you periodic updates of the action taking place on the floor, as well as other information that you might not get by watching or listening to the broadcast of the game. The Gophers are attempting to improve to 9-0 to start a season for the first time since the 1976-77 squad won its first 11 games on its way to a 24-3 mark.

Final Score: Minnesota 74, South Dakota State 60

The Gophers improve to 9-0 on the season with the 74-60 victory versus the JackRabbits (4-6). Minnesota is off to its best start since the 1976-77 Gophers won their first 11 games. Damian Johnson scored a career-high 21 points to pace Minnesota's scoring, while Al Nolen had a career-best 11 assists to go along with a game-high eight rebounds, eight points, and three steals. Minnesota forced 20 SDSU turnovers, and recorded 10 steals in the win. It is the fourth time this season that Minnesota has reached double-digits for team steals. South Dakota State was led in scoring by Clint Sargent's game-high 25 points, while Garrett Callahan added 15 points in the loss. As a team, Minnesota made 32-of-66 (.485) field goals, but only 3-of-17 (.176) from three-point range, and 7-of-13 (.538) free throws. SDSU connected on 21-of-55 (.382) attempts from the field, including 8-of-24 (.333) from long-range, and 10-of-13 (.769) foul shots. The JackRabbits outrebounded Minnesota, 38-35. Paced by Nolen's 11 assists, Minnesota dished out a team season-high of 24 before a crowd of 12,388 at The Barn.

1:41 Second Half

Two free throws by Ralph Sampson III put the Gophers comfortably in front, 72-58.

3:14 Second Half - Final Media Timeout

Minnesota is shooting 50 percent for the game, making 31-of-62 attempts from the field, and the Gophers still lead, 68-54.

3:25 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (SDSU)

Johnson scores on a layup, and has a new career-high for points with 19. The Gophers stretch the lead to 65-54. Lawrence Westbrook makes a three on the next possession, and Minnesota is on top by a score of 68-54.

6:16 Second Half

Johnson just made another field goal to tie his career-high with 17 points, while Nolen has tied his career-best with his ninth assist. Minnesota leads 63-52.

7:14 Second Half - Third Media Timeout

Damian Johnson is the lone Minnesota player in double-figures, with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and is tied with Al Nolen with a team-best six rebounds. Nolen also has eight points, eight assists, and three steals in the game. The Gophers lead by a score of 59-52.

9:16 Second Half

Baskets by Travis Busch and Al Nolen have pushed Minnesota's lead back to nine points, at 57-48.

10:53 Second Half - Second Media Timeout

The JackRabbits are making a furious run at the Gophers, and have cut Minnesota's lead to 53-48 behind the shooting of Clint Sargent and Garrett Callahan. Sargent has a game-high 19 points, and is 4-of-6 from behind the arc, while Callahan has 15 points and is 4-of-7 from long-range.

14:48 Second Half

Garrett Callahan nails another three-pointer for SDSU, and Michael Palarca makes two free throws to cut the Gophers' lead to 45-36.

15:35 Second Half - First Media Timeout

The Gophers hold a 45-30 lead, but have made just 2-of-8 field goals to this point. SDSU is 2-of-5 (.400) so far in the second half, but has already turned the ball over three times to increase its game total to 15 turnovers.

17:14 Second Half - Full Timeout (SDSU)

Minnesota leads by a score of 43-30, as SDSU's Callahan has scored four quick points to begin the half.

19:25 Second Half

Garrett Callahan of SDSU hits a three-pointer to open the second-half scoring, Minnesota leads 39-27.

20:00 Second Half

Both teams will have their starting lineups on the floor to start the second half.

Halftime Score: Minnesota 39 - South Dakota State 24

The Gophers take a 15-point lead into the lockerroom, 39-24. Minnesota is led in scoring by Damian Johnson with nine points, while Lawrence Westbrook has added seven. Nine of the Gophers' 11 players dressed for the game tonight have scored in the game. Minnesota has dominated inside, with a 22-8 advantage in points in the paint, and has recorded eight steals. As a team, the Gophers are 18-of-32 (.562) from the field, but just 2-of-9 (.222) from behind the three-point line. SDSU, which is led in scoring by Clint Sargent's game-high 11 points, has made just 8-of-24 (.333) field goal attempts. The JackRabbits are 4-of-12 (.333) from three-point range, and have been outrebounded by a margin of 20 to 13.

2:56 First Half

SDSU's Clint Sargent hits a three-pointer out of the gate to end the team's dry spell from the floor, and also take over game-high scoring honors with nine points, all from behind the arc.

3:08 First Half - Final Media Timeout

Minnesota has held SDSU without a field goal since the 8:46 mark, and the lead has been stretched to 34-15 in favor of the Gophers. The JackRabbits are just 5-of-18 (.278) from the field, and have turned the ball over 11 times. Lawrence Westbrook leads Minnesota with seven points, while Jonathan Williams has pulled down a game-high four boards so far.

6:40 First Half

Westbrook beats the shot clock and hits a jumper along the left baseline for a 28-15 Minnesota lead, its biggest of the game.

7:57 First Half - Third Media Timeout

Lawrence Westbrook gets his first points, making a trey from the right corner, and the Gophers lead by a score of 26-15. A total of nine Gophers have scored already, with Johnson continuing to lead the way with six points. SDSU is led by six points from Clint Sargent.

9:32 First Half

Jonanthan Williams pulls down an offensive rebound, then finds Devoe Joseph along the left baseline for a 21-11 Gopher lead.

10:24 First Half - Second Media Timeout

Minnesota holds a 17-11 lead, and is shooting 8-of-13 (.615) from the floor, but the Gophers have turned the ball over five times. SDSU is 4-of-14 (.286), and has also committed five turnovers. Damian Johnson leads all Minnesota scorers with six points.

11:39 First Half

SDSU's Garrett Callahan makes a three, and the JackRabbits have cut the deficit to 17-11.

14:39 First Half

Clint Sargent makes a three-pointer for SDSU's first points, and then does it again on the next possession. Gophers lead, 11-6.

15:49 First Half - First Media Timeout

Colton Iverson takes a pass from Al Nolen in the lane, and goes up for the dunk and an 11-0 lead. All five Minnesota starters have scored, and the Gophers are 5-of-6 from the field, while SDSU is 0-of-7 with two turnovers.

16:58 First Half

Minnesota wins the opening tip, with Ralph Sampson III scoring the first points. Four Gophers have scored already, and the team leads, 9-0.

Tonight's Starting Lineups

Minnesota (8-0): F #34 Damian Johnson, F #50 Ralph Sampson III, C #45 Colton Iverson, G #0 Al Nolen, G #33 Jamal Abu-Shamala

South Dakota State (4-5): F #24 Josh Cassaday, F #40 Anthony Cordova, G #5 Dale Moss, G #20 Garrett Callahan, G #3 Mackenzie Casey

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