University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. Cornell
12/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Welcome to this afternoon's game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-0), and the Big Red of Cornell University (4-4) 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 8-0 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. If Minnesota wins, it will mark the first time in head coach Tubby Smith's illustrious coaching career that one of his teams won its first eight starts.
Final Score: Minnesota 71, Cornell 54
The Gophers make a remarkable second-half comeback, outscoring Cornell 43-14 after the break to improve to 8-0 for the first time since 1976-77. It also marks the first time that a team coached by Tubby Smith has recorded wins in its first eight games. Cornell falls to 4-5 with its third-straight setback. Lawrence Westbrook led Minnesota with 17 points, while Damian Johnson (11 points) and Ralph Sampson III (10 points) also scored in double-digits for the Gophers. Cornell's Ryan Wittman paced all scorers with 21 points, but was limited to just five points in the second half. Minnesota's defense limited Cornell to just 8-of-33 field goals in the second half, including just 1-of-16 from three-point range. Thanks for following along with us this afternoon.
2:03 Second HalfThe Gophers lead, 65-52, and have outscored Cornell 37-12 in the second half.
3:43 Second Half
Minnesota's Al Nolen just fouled out, finishing with seven points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
3:49 Second Half - Final Media Timeout
After Wroblewski's three-point play, Lawrence Westbrook answered with a three-pointer of his own, stretching Minnesota's lead to 61-51. Westbrook is the Gophers' leading scorer, with 13 points, and has made 3-of-5 three-pointers. Colton Iverson and Travis Busch have each grabbed a team-high five rebounds for Minnesota.
4:43 Second Half
Cornell just made its first field goal since the 16:44 mark of the second half, as Chris Wroblewski makes a traditional three-point play to cut the lead to 58-51.
5:42 Second Half
A beautiful putback dunk by Colton Iverson gives Minnesota its biggest lead of the day, 56-48.
7:10 Second Half - Third Media Timeout
Minnesota has outscored Cornell, 26-8, in the second half. And an interesting note is that the Gophers have gone on a 21-2 run since Blake Hoffarber was injured at the 16:17 mark of this half. The Gophers lead, 54-48.
8:35 Second Half
Two free throws by Minnesota's Colton Iverson put the Gophers up by three points, 51-48.
9:21 Second HalfCornell's Louis Dale just fouled out of the game, and Lawrence Westbrook made a free throw to cut the lead to 48-47. Westbrook then scores on a fastbreak layup to give the Gophers their first lead since 7:37 of the first half, 49-48.
10:09 Second Half
Cornell finally scores to break a six-plus minute scoring drought, and the Big Red lead by a score of 48-46.
11:16 Second Half
Minnesota is already in the bonus, and Devoe Joseph just tied the game, 46-46, with two free throws.
11:55 Second Half - Second Media Timeout
Cornell turned the ball over just three times in the first half, but has already lost possession four times in the opening eight minutes of the second half, and the Gophers are taking advantage, with four points off those turnovers. Cornell leads, 46-44.
12:24 Second HalfA baseline jumper by Travis Busch cuts the lead to 46-44, and the Gophers are in the midst of an 11-0 run.
13:58 Second Half
A floater in the lane by Devoe Joseph cuts the lead to 46-40, followed by a turnover and a dunk by Ralph Sampson III to cut it to 46-42. The crowd at The Barn is LOUD!
14:23 Second Half - Full Timeout (Cornell)
A three-pointer by Damian Johnson cut the lead to 10 points, 46-36, and then a putback by Johnson makes it 46-38. The Gophers force a turnover, and will have the ball following the timeout.
15:36 Second Half - First Media Timeout
Cornell still leads by a score of 46-33. The crowd at The Barn, especially the student section, has been upset with some of the calls on the floor so far, and is trying to get the Gophers going.
16:17 Second Half
Ralph Sampson III grabs a rebound in the lane and puts it back for the Gophers, but Cornell's Geoff Foote answers at the other end for a 46-33 lead for the Big Red. On the Gophers' end, Blake Hoffarber is injured, and it doesn't look promising. The injury appears to be to the right leg.
19:36 Second HalfDamian Johnson scores on a soft bank shot, 40-30 in favor of Cornell.
Start of the Second HalfBoth teams will have their starting lineups back out on the floor to begind the second half.
Halftime Score: Cornell 40, Minnesota 28
The Big Red used outstanding marksmanship from beyond the arc to make things tough for Minnesota, as Cornell canned 6-of-15 (.400) threes in the opening 20 minutes of play. Overall, Cornell was 14-of-29 (.483) from the field, and 6-of-7 (.857) at the free throw line, while pulling down 16 rebounds and having great ball control, with just three turnovers. Minnesota made 10-of-23 (.435) field goals, going 4-of-11 (.364) from beyond the arc, but only 4-of-8 (.500) at the charity stripe. This is the largest deficit that Minnesota has faced at Williams Arena this season. Cornell's Ryan Wittman paces all scorers with 16 points, and has made 4-of-7 three-pointers. Blake Hoffarber and Al Nolen each have six points to pace the Gophers.
0:21.3 First Half - 30-second Timeout (Minnesota)
Cornell leads, 40-28, for its biggest lead of the half. It marks just the second time this season that a team has scored 30 or more points against the Gophers in the opening half. Colorado State tallied 38 against Minnesota Nov. 22.
1:28 First Half - 30-second Timeout (Cornell)
The Gophers trail by a score of 37-28. Tubby Smith is trying to get his Gophers fired up.
1:38 First Half
Cornell scored four quick points after the timeout before Travis Busch made a basket to cut the Cornell lead to 34-27. Wittman just made another three-pointer, though, and the Big Red lead, 37-27.
3:55 First Half - Final Media Timeout
Cornell continues to shoot the lights out, having made 11-of-22 (.500) field goals, including 5-of-12 (.417) from behind the three-point line. The Gophers have made 9-of-20 (.450) attempts from the field, and 4-of-10 (.400) from beyond the arc. Minnesota is outrebounding Cornell, 13-12, but has turned the ball over seven times to just three for the Big Red.
4:36 First Half
Wittman hits from three-point range again to up Cornell's advantage to 30-25.
5:28 First Half
The Big Red's Ryan Wittman knocks down his second three of the half, and has eight points, as Cornell leads by a score of 27-25.
6:51 First Half
Blake Hoffarber's second three-pointer of the half cuts into Cornell's lead, 24-23 in favor of the Big Red.
7:37 First Half - Third Media Timeout
Cornell's Chris Wroblewski makes a three from the left corner to put the Big Red back in the lead by a score of 22-20. Wroblewski has made two threes for six points.
9:03 First Half
Jamal Abu-Shamala made a nice spin move in the lane as the shot clock wound down, then hit about an eight-foot fade away to increase Minnesota's lead to 20-17.
10:49 First Half
Al Nolen nails a trifecta from the top of the key to put the Gophers up, 18-15. Minnesota is 3-for-5 from three-point range.
11:42 First Half - Second Media Timeout
Minnesota continues to lead, 15-13. Ralph Sampson III leads the Gophers with four points, while Jonanthan Williams has come off the bench to grab a game-high three rebounds. Cornell's Ryan Wittman leads all scorers with five points.
12:41 First Half
A dunk by Ralph Sampson III after a nice pass by Jonathan Williams puts the Gophers up 15-13.
15:27 First HalfA three by Lawrence Westbrook from the right wing gives the Gophers their first lead of the game at 11-10.
15:57 First Half - First Media Timeout
Both teams are shooting the ball extremely well, with Cornell at 3-of-5 (.600), and Minnesota at 3-of-6 (.500), and the game remains tied at 8-8.
16:58 First Half
Minnesota's Blake Hoffarber answers hits a three-pointer after Cornell's Ryan Wittman had made one at the other end, the game is tied, 8-8.
18:16 First Half
Al Nolen gets the Gophers on the board with a three-point play of his own, Cornell leads, 5-3.
Opening Tip
Minnesota wins the tip, but missed a couple shots on its first possession. Cornell's Louis Dale scores, and is fouled. He makes the free throw for a 3-0 Big Red lead.
Today's Starting Lineups
Minnesota (7-0): F #33 Jamal Abu-Shamala, F #34 Damian Johnson, C #45 Colton Iverson, G #24 Blake Hoffarber, G #0 Al Nolen
Cornell (4-4): F #20 Ryan Wittman, F #33 Alex Tyler, C #1 Jeff Foote, G #15 Geoff Reeves, G #12 Louis Dale
