University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Dominate Northwestern 72-45
2/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Minnesota men’s basketball team got revenge Sunday night for a mid-January loss at Northwestern, handling the Wildcats 72-45 at Williams Arena.
Lawrence Westbrook hit four three-pointers and led the Maroon and Gold with a game-high 17 points. Devron Bostick, who had a combined four points in nine games entering Sunday’s matchup, scored nine points all in the first half on his 21st Birthday. Four others Colton Iverson, Travis Busch, Blake Hoffarber and Paul Carter added seven points each. Carter also led the team with eight rebounds in 26 minutes of work.
Jeremy Nash and John Shurna paced Northwestern with nine points apiece.
The Gophers improve to 20-7 overall and 8-7 in Big Ten play matching their overall and conference win totals from 2007-08. Meanwhile, the Wildcats drop to 14-11 overall and 5-9 in the Big Ten.
With a mixture of efficient offense and stifling defense the Gophers broke open the game midway through the first half and never looked back, leading by as many 28 on their way to their 15th home win.
Minnesota shot 47.8 percent in the first half (11-of-23) while holding the Wildcats to five made field goals (5-of-21 - 23.8 percent). That lopsided differential combined with Minnesota’s ability to outrebound Northwestern 21 to 12 helped the Gophers build a double-digit lead.
Northwestern was within three, 16-13, following a three by Craig Moore with 9:29 remaining in the first half. But that would be as close as the Wildcats would come as Minnesota ended the first half on a mammoth 20-5 run.
The Gophers jumped out to a 25-13 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the first half following a tip-in layup by Bostick. Later, a three by Westbrook followed by a free throw by Colton Iverson gave the Gophers an 18-point advantage, 36-18, heading into halftime.
Out of the locker room, Minnesota extended its lead some more. Westbrook hit another three moments into the second half and Damian Johnson followed with a layup to put the Gophers ahead 43-21 two and a half minutes into the stanza.
From there, the Wildcats would get no closer than 16.
With just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, Minnesota’s lead ballooned to 24 when Al Nolen found Iverson for a thunderous dunk to put the Maroon and Gold in front 55-31. With 4:19 to go, Nolen connected on a three to give the Gophers a 27-point lead. And, down the stretch, Hoffarber put the icing on the cake by connecting from downtown to give Minnesota its biggest lead of the night, a 28-point advantage, with just over a minute remaining.
Minnesota shot 55 percent in the second half and finished the game 22-of-43 (51.2 percent). The Wildcats shot 30.4 percent (14-of-46).
The Gophers, who are seeking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, return to action on Thursday when they play their final regular season road game at Illinois.
Noteworthy:
The jersey number of former Minnesota All-American Whitey Skoog was retired during a halftime ceremony. Skoog is credited for inventing the jump shot.
Guard Kevin Payton played in his first game back from suspension.
