University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers' Comeback Blocked by Aggies
11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Anaheim, Calif. - Trailing by seven with 1:11 left to play, the Minnesota basketball team rattled off six straight points to close within one, but its final shot - a short Paul Carter (Little Rock, Ark.) jumper - was blocked, sealing a 66-65 loss to Texas A&M in the third place game of the 76 Classic this afternoon (Nov. 29).
The Gophers lost their last two games to finish in fourth place at the 76 Classic, posting a 1-2 record in their three games after winning their opener over #10 Butler on Nov. 26.
After an Aggie free throw put them up 66-59, a three-point play by Carter started the run of six straight points to pull the Gophers within one at 66-65. After two missed free throws by the Aggies, the Gophers got the ball back with one last chance to take the lead. Carter took the ball at the top of the arc, and drove into the lane before his shot attempt was blocked.
Texas A&M (5-1) took its first lead with just over five minutes left to play in the first half, and would not trail again. Minnesota (4-2) opened up a six-point lead at 23-17 at the 7:29 mark of the first half after a layup by Carter, but by the 3:14 mark it would be down double digits.
The Aggies went on a 19-2 run over a 4:15 span to take their first lead and open the margin to its biggest of the game at 11 points at 36-35. A layup by Colton Iverson (Yankton, S.D.) in the final minute of the half brought the halftime margin within double digits at 38-29. Iverson would go on to finish as the Gophers' leading scorer with 14 points, while also leading in rebounds with a career-high 12 for his second double-double in the last three games.
The Aggies opened the second half with a quick bucket to stretch their lead back to 11, but from there the Gophers began to chip away. With 12:20 left in the game, Minnesota was back within one at 46-45 after a dunk from Carter.
However, that was as close at Minnesota would get until the closing seconds, as Texas A&M maintained at least a two-point lead until the final minute.
Texas A&M held Minnesota to under 39 percent shooting from the field in its upset of the No. 16 ranked Gophers. The Aggies shot 41 percent from the floor, including a 43 percent tally from behind the arc, making six three-pointers compared to just three for Minnesota.
Rebounds were even on the night at 41 apiece, but the Gophers lost the turnover battle, giving the ball away 16 times, compared to the Aggies' 14. Texas A&M turned those 16 Minnesota turnovers into 24 points.
The Gophers stay on the road, traveling next to Florida for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge where they will take on Miami on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Tip-off for the Gophers and Hurricanes is set for 6:15 p.m.
