University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. High Point
12/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Welcome to the Gopher Game Day Blog for this evening's contest against the Panthers of High Point University, which is Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith's alma mater. The 23rd-ranked Gophers enter their final non-conference tilt with a record of 11-0, while High Point owns a mark of 4-7. We'll give you periodic updates of what's taking place on the floor at The Barn, as well as some stats and info that you might not get through other sources. Thanks for stopping by, and Go Gophers!
Final Score: Minnesota 82, High Point 56
Minnesota improves to 12-0 for the first time since 1948-49 with the 26-point win over the Panthers (4-8). The Gophers were led in scoring by Ralph Sampson III's 17 points, while Lawrence Westbrook (13 points), Blake Hoffarber (11), Devoe Joseph (11), and Devron Bostick (11) were also in double-figures for the winners. The Gophers connected on 32-of-61 (.525) field goals, including 11-of-24 (.458) three-pointers, and 7-of-12 (.583) free throws. High Point made 19-of-56 (.339) field goals, including 7-of-21 (.333), and 11-of-16 (.688) foul shots in the game. The Panthers were paced by Eugene Harris' 18 points, while Steadman Short added 13 points. The Gophers outrebounded High Point, 36-35, led by Colton Iverson's game-high seven boards. High Point's Short and Cruz Daniels also had seven caroms apiece.
1:40 Second Half
Devoe Joseph's three-pointer gives Minnesota an 82-54 lead, and 11 treys in the game. The three-pointer total ties for sixth on Minnesota's all-time single-game list for threes in a game, last achieved versus Ohio State on Feb. 18, 2007.
2:57 Second Half
Sampson just added to his total, making a layup to give the Gophers a 79-54 lead, and increase his point total to 17 points.
3:13 Second Half - Final Media Timeout
The Gophers lead, 77-54, and Ralph Sampson III has just been named tonight's Boston Scientific player of the game. Sampson has a season-high 15 points, as well as pulling down five rebounds, dishing out three assists, and blocking one shot in the game. He has made 6-of-9 field goal attempts on the night.
5:49 Second Half - Full Timeout (High Point)
The Panthers trail by a score of 77-51 following a three-pointer. A good crowd turned out for tonight's game, and many of those fans have started heading to the exits with the Gophers solidly in the lead.
7:30 Second Half - Third Media Timeout
Ralph Sampson scored on a jumper from the free throw line on the previous possession, putting Minnesota up by 30 points, 75-45. Sampson now has a team-high 15 points, while Lawrence Westbrook, Blake Hoffarber, and Devron Bostick all have 11 points for the Gophers.
8:34 Second Half
Blake Hoffarber connects on an old-fashioned three-point play, extending Minnesota's lead to 73-44, its largest lead of the season.
10:31 Second Half
Devron Bostick knocks down his third three-pointer of the game, and Minnesota's season-high 10th of the night, and the Gophers lead by a score of 67-42. Bostick has 11 points in the game, tying his season-high, which he had scored in the win against Eastern Washington.
11:48 Second Half - Second Media Timeout
Blake Hoffarber hits the Gophers' ninth trey of the night mark at the 12:16, tying the team's best mark for three-pointers in a game this season, and Minnesota leads, 64-40. The Gophers are now 9-of-17 (.529) from behind the three-point line in the game.
15:23 Second Half - First Media Timeout
High Point has opened the second half by making 5-of-8 field goals, including two three-pointers, to cut into the Golden Gophers' lead. Minnesota is still up by 20 points, at 55-35.
17:57 Second Half
A tip-in by Ralph Sampson gives the freshman center 13 points in the game, and a 55-30 Minnesota lead. The point total is a season high for the 6-11 Sampson.
Halftime Score: Minnesota 49, High Point 23
Bostick's hot hand continued, as he made a trey from the left side with 0:4.5 left for a 26-point halftime advantage for the Gophers. The 49 points is the most Minnesota has scored in an opening half this season, topping the 47 points the Gophers tallied in the first half of the 88-67 win against Eastern Washington on Nov. 26. Minnesota was 18-of-34 (.529) from the field in the first half, including a blistering 8-of-14 (.571) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, High Point was held to just 8-of-28 (.286) attempts from the field, and just 2-of-10 (.200) three-pointers. The Gophers are paced by 11 points each from Lawrence Westbrook and Ralph Sampson III, while Bostick tallied eight quick points in the closing minutes. Steadman Short leads the Panthers with nine points.
For those wondering about High Point University, which is the alma mater of Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith, the school is located in High Point, N.C., and was founded in 1924. It has an enrollment of 3,500 students, and the Panthers are members of the Big South Conference.
0:56 First Half
Bostick nails a three-pointer from the left wing, and the Gophers have doubled High Point's scoring output, 46-23.
1:21 First Half
Devron Bostick joins the scoring column for the Gophers with a turnaround jumper along the right baseline. Minnesota leads by 21 points, 43-22.
3:10 First Half
Devoe Joseph hits another trifecta for Minnesota, stretching the Gophers' lead to 38-22, and then hits his second trey on the following possession for a 41-22 advantage.
3:45 First Half - Final Media Timeout
Blake Hoffarber's three-pointer gave the Gophers a 35-20 lead.
4:28 First Half
Paul Carter hits a turnaround in the lane for his first points since scoring eight points in the win at Colorado State on Nov. 22. He was injured in the game versus Eastern Washington on Nov. 26, and hadn't played since making an appearance late in the most recent game against Southeastern Louisiana.
6:17 First Half
Damian Johnson connects on the second of two free throws, giving Minnesota its largest lead of the game, at 30-16.
7:43 First Half
Ralph Sampson makes a basket following the timeout, is fouled, and then makes the free throw for his 11th point. Sampson is already just one point shy of his career-high 12 points, which he scored in the win against North Dakota State.
7:46 First Half - Third Media Timeout
The Gophers are on top by a score of 26-16. Minnesota continues to shoot well, making 10-of-18 (.556) attempts. High Point has been held to just 5-of-19 (.263) field goals, with Steadman Short pacing the Panthers with six points in the game.
9:08 First Half
A fastbreak layup by Westbrook gives him 11 points for the game. On the next Gophers' possession, Westbrook missed his first three-point attempt, but Colton Iverson went high in the air to grab the ball and slam it home with authority. The Gophers lead, 24-16.
9:51 First Half
Ralph Sampson throws a nice lob pass inside to Colton Iverson, who turns and slams it home for a 20-15 Gopher lead.
11:29 First Half
Travis Busch makes his first field goal attempt of the night, hitting a short jumper along the right baseline to put Minnesota up, 18-13.
11:57 First Half - Second Media Timeout
Minnesota has been held scoreless since the 15:08 mark, but continue to lead by a score of 16-11. The Gophers are 6-of-11 (.545) from the field, and 3-of-4 (.750) from beyond the arc, and Westbrook is the game's leading scorer with his nine points.
15:08 First Half
Al Nolen drove toward the baseline, and passed to Ralph Sampson coming down the lane for a two-handed dunk, giving Minnesota a 16-7 lead.
15:44 First Half - First Media Timeout
Minnesota still leads, 13-5, following a foul by High Point. Damian Johnson will go to the line for the Gophers. Johnson missed the first, but made the second, and Minnesota leads by nine points, 14-5.
16:02 First Half
Westbrook is 3-of-3 from three-point range, hitting treys on Minnesota's last two possessions, and the Gophers have an early 13-5 advantage against the Panthers.
18:28 First Half
Lawrence Westbrook makes a three from just right of the top of the key for a 5-2 lead.
20:00 First Half - Opening Tip
High Point wins the tip, but misses its first shot, and Ralph Sampson III hits the first jumper for Minnesota to give the Gophers the 2-0 lead at the 19:25 mark.
Tonight's Starting Lineups
Minnesota (11-0): F #34 Damian Johnson, F #50 Ralph Sampson III, C #45 Colton Iverson, G #0 Al Nolen, G #20 Lawrence Westbrook
High Point (4-7): F #34 Steadman Short, C #50 Cruz Daniels, G #1 Nick Barbour, G #4 Eugene Harris, G #11 David Singleton
