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

Welcome to the Gopher Hoops Game Day Blog for tonight's Big Ten game against the Hoosiers of Indiana University. Minnesota enters the contest with a record of 18-5 overall and 6-5 in the conference following Saturday night's 64-58 setback at Ohio State, while Indiana is 6-16 overall and 1-9 in the Big Ten standings following Saturday's 75-47 loss at Michigan State. 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 Dave Revsine calling the play-by-play, and Shon Morris 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: Minnesota 62, Indiana 54

The Gophers improve to 19-5 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten with the eight-point win. Indiana, meanwhile, falls to 6-17 overall and 1-10 in the conference. Paul Carter led all scorers with a career-high 22 points for the Gophers. Thanks for following along tonight. The next Gopher Hoops Game Day Blog will take place during Minnesota's next home game, which takes place Sunday, Feb. 22, as the Gophers play host to Northwestern at 6:00 p.m.

0:25 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (Minnesota)

The Gophers are have a tough time closing out the victory, but lead by a score of 58-51 with the team's best free throw shooters on the floor. Lawrence Westbrook just made two shots from the line to give Minnesota a 60-51 lead.

1:32 Second Half - 30-second Timeout (Indiana)

The Gophers still lead by eight points, 54-46, and the student section at The Barn has been chanting "Standing...Standing...Standing" repeatedly ever since Tom Pritchard fouled out, as they wait for the Indiana player to finally have a seat on the bench. The Gophers are without a field goal since the 5:49 mark, and have been struggling at the free throw line.

3:57 Second Half - Final Media Timeout

Indiana has closed the gap with a 6-0 run to pull back within eight points, 52-44, but Indiana's Tom Pritchard just fouled out of the game. Pritchard entered tonight's game with averages of 11.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers.

7:22 Second Half - Third Media Timeout

A three-point play by Ralph Sampson III, followed by a three-pointer by Paul Carter has given Minnesota its biggest lead of the night, 50-36. The Gophers have outscored Indiana, 17-2, since the Hoosiers took a brief lead. The Gophers have made 10-of-21 field goals in the second half, and have forced eight IU turnovers, giving the Hoosiers 23 for the game.

10:11 Second Half

Jamal Abu-Shamala knocked down a three from the top of the key, and the Gophers' lead is back to 10 points, 44-34. Minnesota is on an 11-0 run since falling behind, 34-33.

10:39 Second Half

Two quick baskets by Paul Carter, the second one a beautiful alley-oop dunk, have stretched Minnesota's lead back to seven points, 41-34. The Gophers have now forced 22 Indiana turnovers in the game, which is a season-high figure for a Minnesota opponent.

11:32 Second Half - Second Media Timeout

Indiana still trails, 37-34, but the Hoosiers have made 5-of-8 (.625) field goals after the break, which includes a red-hot 4-of-6 (.667) from three-point range, to cut into Minnesota's lead.

11:51 Second Half - Full Timeout (Indiana)

After falling behind for the first time in the game, Minnesota responded with back-to-back baskets by Paul Carter and Al Nolen to pull back in front, 37-34, and forcing Indiana's Tom Crean to call the timeout.

12:46 Second Half

Back-to-back three-pointers from well behind the arc by Indiana's Matt Roth have given the Hoosiers their first lead of the night, 34-33.

13:56 Second Half

The Gophers lead, 33-28, after a layup by Devoe Joseph.

16:32 Second Half

Indiana has opened the second half with a couple three-pointers, and has outscored Minnesota 8-2 to cut the Gophers' lead to 29-28.

20:00 Second Half

Both teams have their original starters on the floor to start the second half.

Halftime Score: Minnesota 27, Indiana 20

The Gophers hold a seven-point lead at the break, as former Gopher great Trent Tucker is having his #32 jersey retired, joining Minnesota legends Lou Hudson, Jim Brewer, Mychal Thompson, and Kevin McHale. Minnesota finished made 10-of-26 (.385) field goals, but just 1-of-6 (.167) threes in the opening half. Devoe Joseph leads the team with seven points, while IU's Malik Story tops all scorers with 11 points off the bench. Indiana was held to just 6-of-17 (.353) field goals, and 1-of-7 (.143) treys. The Gophers held a 17-13 lead in rebounding, paced by three each from Devoe Joseph, Paul Carter, and Ralph Sampson III. Indiana turned the ball over 15 times, while Minnesota commited 11 turnovers.

2:08 First Half

Devoe Joseph connects on the first three-pointer of the game for Minnesota, and the Gophers lead by a score of 25-14. Minnesota is now 1-of-6 from long-range.

3:20 First Half - 30-second Timeout (Indiana)

A free throw by Sampson, and a jumper in the lane by Devoe Joseph have stretched Minnesota's lead to nine points, 21-12. Minnesota is currently on a 7-0 run.

3:54 First Half - Final Media Timeout

The score is 18-12 in favor of the Gophers, as Minnesota has scored the last four points after Indiana had cut the lead to two points. The Gophers are 7-for-21 from the field, while Indiana has made 4-of-13 field goal attempts. Sloppy play continues to be a factor, though, as the Hoosiers have 12 turnovers to eight for Minnesota.

6:58 First Half

Indiana's Malik Story made a pair of free throws after the timeout, then hit a three-pointer, to cut Minnsota's lead to 14-12.

7:47 First Half - Third Media Timeout

The Gophers have held Indiana to just seven points in the first 12-plus minutes of the half, but have failed to take full advantage of the Hoosiers' struggles to lead by a 14-7 score. The teams have combined for 14 turnovers, with Indiana committing eight to the Gophers' six.

9:34 First Half

A Ralph Sampson tip-in off a miss by Lawrence Westbrook at the 9:57 mark stretched Minnesota's lead to seven points, 12-5, and Sampson just added two free throws for a 14-5 lead. Indiana, meanwhile, is just 1-for-6 at the free throw line.

11:39 First Half - Second Media Timeout

The Gophers hold a 10-5 lead in a slow start to tonight's game. Minnesota has made 4-of-11 field goals, while Indiana is just 2-of-6 from the field, and has turned the ball over seven times so far. Minnesota has missed all four attempts from three-point range.

14:50 First Half

Indiana went more than five minutes before finally making its first field goal. Minnesota leads, 6-3.

15:33 First Half - First Media Timeout

The Gophers lead, 4-1. Minnesota's Damian Johnson already has a steal and a blocked shot for the Gophers, and Indiana has already turned the ball over four times against Minnesota's defense.

20:00 First Half

Indiana wins the tip, immediately turns it over, but Minnesota misfires on its first shot. On its third possession, Colton Iverson opens the scoring with a layup at the 18:25 mark and a 2-0 lead for the Gophers.

Tonight's Starting Lineups

Indiana (6-16, 1-9 Big Ten): F #25 Tom Pritchard, F #44 Kyle Taber, G #2 Matt Roth, G #12 Verdell Jones III, G #20 Nick Williams

Minnesota (18-5, 6-5 Big Ten): F #34 Damian Johnson, F #50 Ralph Sampson III, C #45 Colton Iverson, G #0 Al Nolen, G #20 Lawrence Westbrook

Pregame Notes of Interest

The Gophers are wearing their white home uniforms for just the second time this season. Minnesota's only prior game this season in the white uni's was during its 70-62 loss versus Purdue on Jan. 22 . . . Minnesota will be without the services of guard Travis Busch for tonight's game, due to illness . . . former Gopher standout Trent Tucker will have his jersey retired this evening . . . Indiana's leading scorer, Devan Dumes, who is averaging 13.8 points per game this season, will not play in tonight's game after being suspended indefinitely by Hoosier head coach Tom Crean following an ejection for a flagrant foul during Saturday's loss at Michigan State.

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