University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. Michigan State
12/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Welcome to the Gopher Game Day Blog for today's Big Ten opener against the Spartans of Michigan State University. The 21st-ranked Gophers enter the contest with an unblemished record of 12-0, while Michigan State is off to a 9-2 start, and is ranked 10th by the Associated Press and 15th by ESPN/USA Today. 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. It's a big day for Minnesota sports, as the Gopher football team faces Kansas in the Insight Bowl at 5:00 p.m. this evening in Tempe, Ariz. Today's basketball game versus the Spartans had originally been scheduled for a 5:00 tipoff, but was moved to 11:00 a.m. to allow Gopher fans to be able to see both games. Go Gophers!
Final Score: #10/15 Michigan State 70, #21 Minnesota 58
Minnesota's reserves cut the final deficit to 12 points, but it was a struggle all game for the Gophers, who lose their first game of the season to fall to 12-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State improves to 10-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference. For the game, Minnesota made 21-of-53 (396) field goal attempts, but just 6-of-21 (.286) three-pointers, and 10-of-16 (.625) free throws. Michigan State made 26-of-64 (.406) attempts from the field, including 6-of-18 (.333) treys, and 12-of-13 (.923) foul shots. The Spartans held a huge advantage on the boards in the game, outrebounding the Gophers, 49-27, with 23 offensive rebounds for the visitors. The Gophers had two players reach double-figures for points, with Al Nolen scoring 14, and Lawrence Westbrook adding 11. Nolen also dished out a game-high seven assists, while Colton Iverson led Minnesota with seven boards. MSU was paced by a game-high 24 points from Kalin Lucas, while Chris Allen added 13 points for the winners. Two Spartans had double-doubles for points and rebounds, with Goran Suton scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-best 12 rebounds, and Raymar Morgan finishing with 10 points and 10 boards.1:36 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (Minnesota)
A bank shot in the lane by Al Nolen cuts it to 68-51 in favor of the Spartans. Nolen has a team-high 14 points and seven assists in the game.3:09 Second Half - Final Media Timeout
Michigan State leads by a score of 66-49. The Gophers just haven't been able to find a rhythm here in the second half, and the home team is shooting just 9-of-28 (.321) for the half, and 17-of-48 (.354) for the game.
4:21 Second Half
Another jumper by Busch, this one from the free throw line, makes it 64-49 in favor of the visitors from East Lansing.5:40 Second Half
A Travis Busch jumper along the right baseline ends a long Minnesota scoring drought, but Michigan State leads, 60-47.7:14 Second Half - Third Media Timeout
The Spartans still lead by a score of 58-45, outscoring the Gophers 28-16 since the halftime break. Minnesota is 7-of-23 (.304) from the field in the second half, but has connected on just 1-of-8 (.125) treys, while the Spartans are shooting 10-of-19 (.526) from the field in that time. Al Nolen is the Gophers' lone player in double-figures, with 12 points.7:45 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (Minnesota)
Michigan State has stretched its lead to 13 points, its largest of the game, at 58-45.11:50 Second Half - Second Media Timeout
Michigan State's lead is 10 points, at 46-36, as the Gophers continue their frigid shooting in the second stanza. Minnesota has made just 3-of-14 (.214) second-half field goals, including 0-of-5 from three-point range.12:16 Second Half
A layup on the left side by Lawrence Westbrook makes it a 44-36 lead for the Spartans. Westbrook has been held in check today by MSU, managing just five points so far.14:36 Second Half
A three by MSU's Goran Suton gives the Spartans a 41-34 lead. Suton is now 4-of-5 from three-point range this season.
15:16 Second Half - First Media Timeout
Travis Busch makes a 12-foot jumper along the right baseline, cutting the lead to 38-32, then Colton Iverson made a bank shot inside to get the Gophers back within four points, 38-34. Like the first half, Minnesota is off to a rough start shooting the ball, having connected on just 2-of-10 shots so far after the break.17:25 Second Half - Full Timeout (Minnesota)
Tubby Smith didn't like what he was seeing from his Gophers to open the second half, and called a timeout. After Minnesota tied the game with a free throw by Iverson, Michigan State has gone on an 8-0 run and leads, 38-30.
19:46 Second Half
Colton Iverson was fouled on Minnesota's first possession, and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 30-30.
Second Half Starters
Both teams will have their original starting lineups back on the floor to start the second half.
Halftime Score: #10/15 Michigan State 30, #21 Minnesota 29
Damian Johnson got fouled on a layup, then went to the line and made both free throws for the Gophers, who closed the half on a 7-0 run. Minnesota, which made just 2 of its first 13 field goal attempts, ended the half by making 6 of 7 attempts to finish at 8of-20 (.400), including 4-of-10 (.400) from beyond the arc. The Gophers were also able to keep things close by making 9-of-11 (.818) attempts from the line. Michigan State made 12-of-34 (.353) field goal attempts, including 4-of-12 (.333) treys, and was 2-of-2 at the foul line. The Gophers are paced by nine points from Al Nolen, while Blake Hoffarber has made a pair of three-pointers for six points. Michigan State's Chris Allen leads all scorers with 11 points, while Kalin Lucas has nine for the visitors.
0:35 First Half
Blake Hoffarber waited in the left corner for a pass from Al Nolen, then knocked down his second trey of the half to get the Gophers within three points, at 30-27. Michigan State turned the ball over on the next possession, and Minnesota has the ball to close the half.
1:43 First Half
Al Nolen goes to the line for two free throws, and connects on both attempts to keep the Gophers within six points, 30-24.
2:10 First Half
Jonathan Williams banks in a jumper from the free throw line, making it a 28-22 game.
2:58 First Half - Final Media Timeout
The scoring has picked up significantly in the last few minutes, and MSU now leads by a score of 28-20.
3:56 First Half
Al Nolen makes a three-pointer for the Gophers to cut it to 23-17, but the Spartans hit one of their own to answer right back. On the ensuing possession, Blake Hoffarber makes his first trey to make it 26-20 in favor of the visitors.
6:17 First Half
A jumper along the right baseline by Paul Carter cuts the lead to 14-12, but Michigan State's Kalin Lucas answers with a three-pointer from the left corner, and the Spartans still lead, 17-12.
7:33 First Half
A fastbreak layup by Lawrence Westbrook on a pass from Al Nolen, cuts the lead to 14-9, and the Westbrook makes a free throw for a three-point play. It's 14-10 in favor of the Spartans.
7:56 First Half - Third Media Timeout
There's really not much to write about so far, as both teams continue to struggle shooting the ball, and Michigan State holds a 14-6 lead. The Gophers are just 2-of-13 (.154) from the field in the game, while MSU has made 6-of-18 (.333) attempts. The Spartans' Chris Allen leads all scorers with eight points.
11:10 First Half - Second Media Timeout
The score remains 10-5 in favor of the Spartans. Minnesota is just 2-of-12 (.167) from the field, while MSU is 4-of-14 (.286).
11:52 First Half
Travis Busch hits the Gophers' first three-pointer of the game, and cuts Michigan State's lead to 10-5.
12:13 First Half
MSU's Allen nails another three-pointer, and the Spartans stretch the early lead to 10-2.
13:29 First Half
The Spartans have opened up a 7-2 lead following a three-pointer from the top of the key by Chris Allen.
15:41 First Half - First Media Timeout
It's a low-scoring game so far, with each team netting just one field goal. Both teams are just 1-of-7 (.143) from the field so far.
16:03 First Half
A tip-in by Michigan State's Goran Suton finally gets Michigan State on the board to tie the score at 2-2.
17:52 First Half
Neither team scored on its opening possession, with Michigan State being whistled for an offensive foul on C Idong Ibok, and Minnesota's Ralph Sampson III missing an 18-foot jumper. The Spartans also failed to score on their second and third possessions before the Gophers' Al Nolen opened the scoring with a 16-foot jumper from the left wing for a 2-0 lead.
20:00 First Half - Today's Starting Lineups
Michigan State (9-2, 0-0 Big Ten): F #2 Raymar Morgan, F #14 Goran Suton, C #00 Idong Ibok, G #1 Kalin Lucas, G #5 Travis Walton
Minnesota (12-0, 0-0 Big Ten): F #34 Damian Johnson, F #45 Colton Iverson, C #50 Ralph Sampson III, G #0 Al Nolen, G #20 Lawrence Westbrook
