University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Upsets Eighth Ranked North Carolina 72-67
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Blake Hoffarber scored 20 points and Trevor Mbakwe 12 as Minnesota upset eighth ranked North Carolina 72-67 in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan on Friday.
Hoffarber had five three pointers and four rebounds in the win, while Mbakwe continued his impressive performance to start the season with nine rebounds to go along with 12 points. Ralph Sampson, who was in foul trouble throughout the second half, had 12 points and six rebounds.
After leading 27-24 at halftime, the Gophers (4-0) never relinquished the lead and came away victorious in the first meeting with the national powerhouse since 1980.
With the win, the Gophers move on to the tournament championship game where they will meet West Virginia on Sunday.
Tyler Zeller led the Tar Heels (2-1) with 16 points and Rodney Bullock had 11 in the loss.
The first half was close throughout, with North Carolina holding the largest lead of six points. Miscues plagued both sides early, as North Carolina had 11 turnovers in the first half to Minnesota's 14. However, the Gophers were able to head into the locker room with a 27-24 half time lead. Blake Hoffarber led Minnesota with nine first half points.
Minnesota started off the second half with high energy and jumped out to an eight point lead with just under 17 minutes to play, but North Carolina was able to cut the lead back to one point three minutes later.
The Gophers held an eight point lead again with just over six minutes left at 58-50 after a deep three from Hoffarber and lays in from Al Nolen and Rodney Williams. Nolen knocked down a huge three as well at the four minute mark that put the Gophers up five.
Williams and Colton Iverson knocked down two huge free throws a piece with just over a minute remaining to give Minnesota breathing room down the stretch. Iverson had seven points and 11 rebounds in the win.
Gopher freshman Mo Walker contributed valuable minutes during the second half while Ralph Sampson III was forced out of the game with three fouls. Walker finished the game with five points and five rebounds.
Highly touted Tar Heel freshman Harrison Barnes, who had 19 and seven rebounds against Hofstra on Thursday, was held to just six points in the contest on 0-12 shooting.
Minnesota shot 41 percent from the field and 28 percent from three, while North Carolina finished the game shooting 36 percent as a team.
