Gopher Hoops Game Day Blog - vs. Penn State - University of Minnesota Athletics

Welcome to the Gopher Hoops Game Day Blog for today's Big Ten game against the Nittany Lions of Penn State University. Minnesota enters the contest with a record of 14-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference following Thursday night's 52-49 come-from-behind win at Iowa, while Penn State is 13-3 overall, and tied with the Gophers in the Big Ten standings following Tuesday's 67-64 upset win at home versus 14th-ranked Purdue. 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.
 
If you're near a television, today's game can be seen on the Big Ten Network, with Wayne Larrivee calling the play-by-play, and former Gopher Trent Tucker adding color commentary. Minnesota's radio broadcast is handled by Mike Grimm (Play-by-Play) and Don Zierden (Analyst), and can be heard over the air or online on flagship station WCCO 830 AM, as well as on XM Radio.  Go Gophers!

Final Score: #22/19 Minnesota 79, Penn State 59

The Gophers record the 20-point win to improve to 15-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, while Penn State falls to 13-4 overall, and 2-2 in the conference. Devron Bostick led the Gophers with 19 points, while Paul Carter added 14 points, Lawrence Westbrook had 13, and Ralph Sampson III finished with 10 points. Al Nolen grabbed a team-best five rebounds for Minnesota, while also dishing out a team-high five assists. Penn State was led by 19 points from Talor Battle. Minnesota made 30-of-48 (.625) field goals in the game, including a perfect 9-of-9 from three-point range, and were good on 15-of-22 (.682) shots after the halftime break. The Gophers' bench combined to shoot an amazing 18-of-22 (.818) from the field in the game, recording 47 of Minnesota's 79 points.

1:21 Second Half

Tubby Smith has emptied the Gophers' bench, as Minnesota leads by 20 points, 79-59.

3:30 Second Half - Final Media Timeout

Minnesota leads, 75-54, and has been in control for most of the second half. The Gophers are shooting 13-of-17 (.765) from the field in the second half.

4:32 Second Half

Jamal Abu-Shamala makes a three-pointer from the left corner, keeping the Gophers perfect from long range in the game. Minnesota is 9-of-9 from that range, and leads, 73-54.

6:48 Second Half - Third Media Timeout

Minnesota is on a 20-8 run since Penn State cut its lead to seven points, at 48-41. The Gophers lead, 68-49, with four players in double-figures for the game. Bostick leads all scorers with his 19 points, while Paul Carter has 12 points, Lawrence Westbrook has 11, and Ralph Sampson III has 10.

8:53 Second Half

Bostick connects on a floater from the left side, then scores again on the following possession, and now leads all scorers with a career-high 19 points. The Gophers lead, 66-47.

10:16 Second Half

Devron Bostick converts on a three-point play, giving him 15 points for the game.

10:47 Second Half - Second Media Timeout

Minnesota's pressing man-to-man defense has hounded the Nittany Lions over the past few minutes. Penn State has turned the ball over four times this half, the Gophers have four steals, and Minnesota is riding an 11-3 run. The score remains 59-44 in favor of the hosts.

12:03 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (Penn State)

Minnesota's pressing defense traps a Penn State player in the backcourt, and forces another Nittany Lion timeout.

12:10 Second Half - Full Timeout (Penn State)

A dunk by Ralph Sampson III, followed by a PSU turnover and an immediate Paul Carter three-pointer from the left corner has stretched Minnesota's advantage to 59-44, forcing the Penn State timeout. The Gophers are 7-of-9 (.778) from the field in the second half, and are now 8-of-8 from beyond the three-point line in the game.

13:08 Second Half

The Gophers have gone on a 6-0 run, with a pair of free throws by Colton Iverson, followed by four straight points by Devron Bostick, and the Gophers have their biggest lead of the afternoon, 54-41.

15:07 Second Half - First Media Timeout

Minnesota had built its largest lead of the game, at 48-36, but the Nittany Lions have responded with a quick 5-0 run to cut the deficit to seven points, 48-41. The Gophers are 4-of-6 from the field in the half, and have yet to attempt a three-pointer.

17:08 Second Half

The teams have traded baskets, and the Gophers still lead by 10 points, 46-36.

20:00 Second Half

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

Halftime Score: #22/19 Minnesota 40, Penn State 30

The Gophers close the half with an exclamation, as Paul Carter takes a pass from Al Nolen and slams it home for a 10-point halftime lead. Minnesota finished the half at 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field, which included all seven attempts from three-point range. Penn State made 12-of-34 (.353) attempts, including 5-of-16 (.312) treys. The Nittany Lions held a slim 18-17 lead on the glass, and forced nine Minnesota turnovers, while turning it over seven times themselves. Lawrence Westbrook scored the first nine points of the game for the Gophers, and is tied for the scoring lead with Paul Carter (9), while Devron Bostick added eight points. PSU is paced by seven points by Talor Battle.

1:18 First Half

Al Nolen made a great over-the-shoulder steal of a long Penn State pass, dribbled the ball down the court, then took a pass and hit an open three-pointer, keeping the Gophers a perfect 7-of-7 from three-point range in the first half. Minnesota leads, 36-28.

3:51 First Half - Final Media Timeout

Minnesota's torrid shooting has cooled off a bit, as the Gophers have had two straight possessions with poor shot selections. Penn State has closed the gap to pull within three points, at 31-28, after connecting on two of its past three attempts from long range.

6:34 First Half - Third Media Timeout

The Gophers are torching the nets so far, making 10-of-16 (.625) field goals, and all six three-point attempts in the game to build a 27-20 lead. Meanwhile, Penn State has heated up to 8-of-23 (.348) attempts overall and 3-of-10 (.300) from long range. Minnesota is led by Lawrence Westbrook's nine points, while Devron Bostick has come off the bench to score eight points.

8:47 First Half

Minnesota leads, 23-14, and it looks to be another sellout at The Barn today. If so, that would mark Minnesota's third-straight packed house.

10:13 First Half

Devron Bostick just made back-to-back threes, making the Gophers 6-of-6 from three-point range, and Minnesota now leads 21-10, forcing a Penn State timeout.

11:18 First Half

Minnesota continues its red-hot shooting from behind the three-point line, as Devoe Joseph just knocked down a three, and the Gophers are 4-of-4 from that range. Minnesota leads, 15-10.

11:36 First Half - Second Media Timeout

Minnesota holds a 12-10 lead following a trey by Paul Carter. The Gophers' man-to-man defense is making it tough on the Nittany Lions, who have only made 4-of-15 (.267) field goals, and 1-of-7 (.143) three-pointers so far.

12:39 First Half

Minnesota has been playing solid defense against the Nittany Lions, forcing three early turnovers and holding Penn State to 25 percent shooting. Lawrence Westbrook connected on a tradiotional three-point play a moment ago, and has all of Minnesota's points in the game, as the Gophers lead, 9-8.

14:57 First Half - First Media Timeout

A pair of three-pointers from Lawrence Westbrook accounts for all of Minnesota's scoring, as the Gophers hold an early 6-5 lead. Minnesota is 2-of-5 from the field, but 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while Penn State is 2-of-7 from the field, including 1-of-4 from long range.

2:36 p.m. - Tipoff

The Gophers win the tip, but Al Nolen misses Minnesota's first shot, Penn State then fails to score on its first possession. Minnesota has a couple chances on its second possession, but turns it over on a traveling call. On its third trip down the floor, Lawrence Westbrook nails a three from the right corner to give the Gophers the early 3-0 lead.

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