Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. Virginia - University of Minnesota Athletics

Welcome to the Gopher Game Day Blog for tonight's Big Ten/ACC Challenge between Minnesota (6-0) and the University of Virginia (3-2) at Williams Arena. It took us awhile to get set up here, but we'll bring you occasional updates from tonight's action.  

Final Score: Minnesota 66 - Virginia 56

Minnesota improves to 7-0 with the 10-point victory, marking just the second time in head coach Tubby Smith's career that he's led his team to wins in its first seven games of a season, while Virginia falls to 3-3 with the loss. The Gophers are now 4-6 all-time in Big Tenn/ACC Challenge games. Minnesota ends the game having made 22-of-53 (.415) field goals, including 6-of-24 (.250) from three-point range, and 16-of-21 (.762) attempts at the charity stripe. The Gophers were outrebounded, 40-32, but Colton Iverson pulled down a game-high seven caroms, while also leading all scorers with 14 points. Damian Johnson scored six points, grabbed six rebounds, and had three assists, three steals, and three blocked shots in the win. A crowd of 12,424 watched the Tuesday-night action. The Big Ten and the ACC are tied, 3-3, following tonight's Big Ten/ACC Challenge games.

2:44 Second Half - Final Media Timeout

Devoe Joseph and Colton Iverson scored the last two baskets for the Gophers, putting an end to a 5-0 run by Virginia, and Minnesota continues to lead comfortably, 59-49. Iverson (13), Hoffarber (12), and Westbrook (11) have all scored in double digits for the Gophers.

5:41 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (Minnesota)

A three-pointer by Virginia's Jamil Tucker makes the score 55-47 in favor of the home team, and causes Tubby Smith to call the timeout. Tucker and Minnesota's Blake Hoffarber are tied for game-high scoring honors with 12 points apiece.

6:20 Second Half - Third Media Timeout

Minnesota leads 55-44 thanks mostly to continued great defense from the Gophers. Virginia is shooting just 29.5 percent for the game, having been held to just 13-of-44 attempts from the field.

7:26 Second Half

Al Nolen stole a ball at the top of the Virginia key and drove the length of the floor for a dunk and a 55-44 lead. Loudest cheer of the night in the Barn, and the student section is packed tonight.

8:42 Second Half

Minnesota's drought has ended, as Hoffarber canned a three-pointer from the top of the key, and Jamal Abu-Shamala made a layup to increase the lead to 53-44 in favor of the Gophers.

9:39 Second Half

Virginia is on an 8-0 run, and Minnesota has not scored a field goal since the 12:59 mark. The Gophers still lead by a score of 48-44.

10:51 Second Half - Second Media Timeout

Virginia has scored four straight points to cut the Gophers' lead to 48-40. Virginia has turned the ball over 15 times, compared to just eight turnovers for Minnesota. 

12:57 Second Half

A Lawrence Westbrook three-pointer has increased Minnesota';s advantage to 48-36. Virginia is shooting just 2-of-8 (.250) from the field in the second half, and has been limited to just 11-for-36 (.306) field goals in the game.

15:21 Second Half - First Media Timeout

It's still 43-33 in favor of Minnesota. Iverson now has 11 points and six rebounds, and needs just four more boards for what would be the Gophers' first double-double of the season.

15:31 Second Half - Timeout (Virginia)

Minnesota opens the second half with an 11-4 run, keyed by great defense, which has led to points on the offensive end. Damian Johnson scored on back-to-back possessions, including a sweet spin in the lane, and a soft reverse layup to put the Gophers in front, 43-33. It is Minnesota's largest lead of the game.  

18:28 Second Half

Damian Johnson just blocked his third shot of the game, and Blake Hoffarber knocked down a three-pointer at the other end, the Gophers lead 37-33.  

Halftime

After taking the 19-18 lead midway through the first half, Minnesota held on to the lead for the rest of the half, and holds a 32-29 lead over Virginia at the break. Minnesota made 12-of-30 (.400) field goals in the first half, but were just 3-for-13 (.231) from three-point range. The Gophers made 5-of-6 (.833) free throws, and grabbed 16 rebounds to Virginia's total of 22. The Cavaliers shot just 32.1 percent in the opening 20 minutes, making 9-of-28 attempts, and 3-of-8 (.375) from behind the arc. Colton Iverson leads all scorers with nine points, and has also grabbed a game-high five rebounds.

3:21 First Half - Final Media Timeout

Minnesota continues to play well, holding a 28-24 lead. The Gophers opened the game by hitting just one of their first eight three-pointers, before knocking down two of the past four attempts, both by Hoffarber.

4:28 First Half

Colton Iverson is playing incredibly well in just his seventh collegiate game. He leads all scorers with nine points, while pulling down five rebounds. Two of his field goals have been highlight-reel dunks. 

6:17 First Half - 30-second Timeout (Virginia)

Lawrence Westbrook knocked down two free throws following the media timeout to give Minnesota its first lead of the night, 19-18. The Gophers are on a 13-2 run over the last four-plus minutes, and lead by a score of 26-18.

7:23 First Half - Third Media Timeout

Following the last timeout, Al Nolen nailed a three-pointer from the left wing to cut the lead to 12-11, but Virginia has scored the past four points for a 16-11 advantage. Damian Johnson is battling hard underneath, and leads the Gophers with three rebounds. Back-to-back threes by sophomore Blake Hoffarber have cut the lead to 18-17 in favor of Virginia, and the Barn has ignited.

11:59 First Half - Second Media Timeout

Led by five points by Sammy Zeglinski, the Cavaliers hold a 12-8 lead over the Gophers, with Iverson still leading Minnesota with four points.

13:10 First Half

 Ralph Sampson III is in the game for the Gophers, with his father watching from the stands. Sampson's dad, of course, was an All-America center for Virginia, and was a three-time NBA All-Star during his career.

15:48 - First Media Timout

Colton Iverson added a dunk, and Minnesota leads by a score of 6-5 at the first media timeout of the game.

Tip-off - 8:36 p.m.

The Gophers win the tip, but Virginia scores the first basket of the game. Minnesota freshman center Colton Iverson answers for the Gophers' first points at the 18:30 mark.

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