University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Game Day Blog - vs. Ohio State
1/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Welcome to the Gopher Game Day Blog for today's Big Ten game against the Buckeyes of Ohio State University. The 21st-ranked Gophers enter the contest with an record of 12-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference following Wednesday's 70-58 loss versus 10th-ranked Michigan State, while Ohio State is off to a 10-1 start, and is ranked 23rd by ESPN/USA Today and 24th by the Associated Press. The Buckeyes opened Big Ten play with a 68-65 win over Iowa, which came on the heels of their lone loss this season, a 76-48 setback versus West Virginia. 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. Go Gophers!
Final Score: #21 Minnesota 68, #23 Ohio State 59
The Gophers win, improving their record to 13-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State falls to 10-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference with the loss. Minnesota was led by Lawrence Westbrook's 15 points, while Damian Johnson also reached double-digits with 12 points. Ohio State was paced by a game-high 21 points, while Jon Diebler added 15 points for the Buckeyes. The Gophers were 25-of-59 (.424) from the field in the game, including 8-of-20 (.400) from behind the three-point line, and made 10-of-11 (.909) shots at the line. Minnesota held the Buckeyes to 34.6 percent shooting in the game, as OSU was good on just 18-of-52 field goal attempts, including just 7-of-19 (.368) threes. The Buckeyes did make 16-of-19 (.842) free throws in the loss. Minnesota held a 42-30 lead on the boards.
0:20 Second Half
Following an issue with the clock, Minnesota's Brian Westbrook knocks down two foul shots, and the Gophers hold a 68-59 lead as the clock runs down.0:29 Second Half
Minnesota continues to have problems with the Buckeyes' press, as OSU forced a jump ball. With possession to the Gophers, Damian Johnson went to the line and made two free throws for a 66-57 lead. Minnesota is 8-of-9 at the line today.0:41 Second Half - Full Timeout (Ohio State)
Ohio State's Jon Diebler connects on a three-pointer, cutting Minnesota's lead to seven points, 64-57. The Buckeyes are 5-of-10 from beyond the arc after the break.
1:34 Second Half
Al Nolen makes Minnesota's first field goal since the 4:40 mark of the half, and the Gophers are back on top by 10 points, 62-52.2:03 Second Half
The Gophers have struggled against Ohio State's pressure defense here in the past minute, turning the ball over on back-to-back possessions, and tehe Buckeyes have cut the Minnesota lead to 60-52 with a 10-0 run.3:39 Second Half - Final Media Timeout
The Gophers lead by a score of 60-45, and Damian Johnson has been named the Boston Scientific player of the game. As usual, Johnson has found a way to contribute all across the board, with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and three blocked shots for the Gophers.4:40 Second Half
Minnesota has its biggest lead of the game following a bank shot along the right side by Damian Johnson gives the Gophers a 60-42 advantage.5:33 Second Half
Paul Carter slashes down the left side of the lane, takes a pass, and is fouled, then knocks down both free throws to give Minnesota its biggest lead, at 58-42. The Gophers are 4-of-4 at the line in the game.7:02 Second Half
A turnaround jumper in the lane by Paul Carter and a layup by Devoe Joseph after the timeout have stretched the Minnesota lead back to 14 points, at 54-40. The Gophers have showed patience on offense, using the clock, and showing great ball movement.7:21 Second Half - Third Media Timeout
Minnesota leads, 50-40, but the Gophers have been held without a field goal since the 11:32 mark of the second half. Ohio State's Jon Diebler is the game's high scorer, with 12 points, while OSU's Evan Turnewr has 10 points. Westbrook paces Minnesota with 11 points in the game, and is 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.8:25 Second Half
Minnesota continues to do a better job on rebounding than it did against Michigan State, as the Gophers have outrebounded the Buckeyes, 37-25, so far in the game. Damian Johnson and Ralph Sampson III each have five caroms for the Gophers, who had just 27 ass a team in the loss to the Spartans.11:10 Second Half Second Media Timeout
Both teams are shooting better than 50 percent to open the half, with Minnesota making 7-of-13 attempts, and the Buckeyes good on 5-of-10. Minnesota still leads, 50-37, and Westbrook is the first Minnesota player in double-figures with 11 points.11:32 Second Half
Great ball movement from right-to-left around the three-point line results in an open Lawrence Westbrook, who nails his third trey of the game, and the Gophers lead, 50-37.17:24 Second Half
Sort13:30 Second Half
A fantastic block by Damian Johnson of a fastbreak layup attempt by OSU's Jon Diebler led to a Minnesota possession capped by a Blake Hoffarber three-pointer in front of the Minnesota bench. The Gophers have stretched the lead to 14 points, their biggest lead of the day, at 47-33.14:55 Second Half
The Gophers seem to have picked up their intensity in the last minute or two, going on a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 44-33.
15:42 Second Half - First Media Timeout
Minnesota went with a different starting five to open the half, as Devoe Joseph, Devron Bostick, Jamal Abu-Shamala, Damian Johnson, and Colton Iverson were on the floor to begin play. The Gophers are 3-of-7 from the field so far, and lead by a 40-33 score.17:24 Second Half
Sort of a sloppy start to the second half for Minnesota, as Ohio State has opened the half on a 9-4 run, but Devron Bostick's putback of a missed layup by Devoe Joseph keeps the Gophers up, 38-33.Halftime Score: #21 Minnesota 34, #23 Ohio State 24
After falling behind, 22-15, Minnesota closes the half with a 19-2 run to lead by 10 points at the break. Nine Gopher players have scored in the opening 20 minutes, led by Lawrence Westbrook's six points. Al Nolen, Devoe Joseph, and Jamal Abu-Shamala each have five points for Minnesota, which has made 13-of-36 (.361) field goals, but 6-of-14 (.429) from behind the three-point line. Ralph Sampson III (5 rebounds) and Damian Johnson (4) have combined for nine boards, as the Gophers hold a 27-18 advantage on the glass after being outrebounded 49-27 in Wednesday's loss to Michigan State. Evan Turner, Jon Diebler, and William Buford all have six points to pace OSU. The Buckeyes made just 7-of-29 (.241) field goals, including just 2-of-8 (.250) threes in the opening half, and didn't make a field goal over the final 6:51. Minnesota held OSU to just 1-of-14 (.071) field goals over the final 14:07 of the half.
0:46 First Half
Jamal Abu-Shamala takes a pass from Blake Hoffarber and makes a trey from the left corner to push the lead to 34-24.1:25 First Half
Colton Iverson jams it home for a 31-22 lead, and Minnesota's streak is now 16-0. The last Buckeye field goal came at the 6:51 mark.2:04 First Half
Joseph connects again, and the Gophers have outscored the Buckeyes 14-0 on this run to lead by a score of 29-22.2:41 First Half
Damian Johnson makes a layup to extend the Minnesota advantage to 27-22.2:52 First Half - Final Media Timeout
Minnesota has gone on a 10-0 run, igniting the crowd at The Barn, to lead by a score of 25-22. Westbrook's six points lead the Gophers, while Devoe Joseph and Al Nolen each have five points. Ohio State is shooting just 28 percent, making 7-of-25 attempts from the field.3:45 First Half
Lawrence Westbrook's three from in front of OSU's bench puts the Gophers on top, 25-22!
4:07 First Half
Paul Carter showed determination, getting a couple shots blocked underneath, before scrambling for the ball, and getting fouled. He makes both free throws to tie the game, 22-22.4:47 First Half
Joseph makes a three-pointer from in front of the Ohio State bench, and Minnesota is back within two points, 22-20.5:49 First Half
Devoe Joseph's fastbreak layup ends a Minnesota scoring drought that had lasted since the 12:30 mark. Ohio State leads, 22-17.6:51 First Half
OSU's Jon Diebler knocks down a trey from the left wing, giving the Buckeyes their largest lead of the game, at 22-15.7:45 First Half - Third Media Timeout
It appeared to Gopher fans that Colton Iverson was fouled underneath the basket, but the baseline official whistled him for having stepped out of bounds. Ohio State continues to lead by a score of 19-15. The teams have combined to miss their past nine field goal attempts.8:31 First Half
Four Ohio State free throws is the only scoring in the last three-plus minutes, and the Buckeyes lead, 19-15. Minnesota has not made a field goal since the 12;30 mark of the half.
11:45 First Half - Second Media Timeout
The score remains tied, 15-15. Lawrence Westbrook leads the Gophers with six points, having made a pair of three-pointers, while Al Nolen has five points. Both teams are 6-of-15 from the field, for 40 percent accuracy. The Buckeyes are led by six points from Evan Turner.12:26 First Half
Westbrook makes a three, and ties the game at 15-15. Minnesota is now 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
15:07 First Half
Ohio State scored four points after the timeout, but Ralph Sampson III makes a bank shot, and the Gophers trail, 11-10.
15:50 First Half - First Media Timeout
The teams are off to a much more frantic start than Minnesota and Michigan State got off to on Wednesday. That score was 4-2 in favor of the Spartans at the first timeout. Today's score is 8-7, with the Gophers leading. Minnesota is 3-of-6 from the field, and has connected on both of its three-point attempts.
17:54 First Half
Al Nolen nails a three from the right wing, giving Minnesota its first lead, 6-5.
18:32 First Half
Lawrence Westbrook answers with a trey of his own, and ties the score, 3-3.
19:00 First Half
The Buckeyes win the tip, but turn it over on their opening possession, Minnesota's Al Nolen then misses a jumper, and Jon Diebler opens the scoring for OSU with a three-pointer.Today's Starting Lineups
Ohio State (10-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten): F #21 Evan Turner, F #52 Dallas Lauderdale, G #2 Jeremie Simmons, G #33 Jon Diebler, G #44 William Buford
Minnesota (12-1 overall, 0-1 Big Ten): F #34 Damian Johnson, F #50 Ralph Sampson III, C #45 Colton Iverson, G #0 Al Nolen, G #20 Lawrence Westbrook
