University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Falls to Wisconsin, 68-60
12/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Despite battling back from an eight point deficit in the second half to take the lead late in the contest, #13 Minnesota lost to #24 Wisconsin 68-60 at the Kohl Center in Madison on Tuesday.
Devoe Joseph had 14 points, eight assists, and four rebounds in the loss in what was the Gophers (11-2) first game of the Big Ten conference schedule. Ralph Sampson III added 14 points of his own to go along with six rebounds. Trevor Mbakwe tallied another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Blake Hoffarber scored 12 points on two of four shooting from three.
Minnesota jumped out to a 14-9 led after the first seven minutes of the game following five straight points from Hoffarber. The Gophers held the led until a Jordan Taylor lay in at the 7:22 mark tied it up at 19-19. Wisconsin (11-2) went on a 14-8 run over the next seven minutes before a Colton Iverson dunk with 15 seconds left cut the Badger lead to four at 33-29 at halftime.
A 10-5 Badger run to open the second half gave Wisconsin their biggest lead of the game at 43-34 with 15:19 left to play. Minnesota charged back behind hot shooting from Hoffarber who scored seven points over a 3:15 span to cut the gap to four at 50-46 with 10:10 remaining.
Baskets from Mbakwe, Sampson III, and Joseph extended the Gopher run and a slam by Mbakwe gave Minnesota their first lead of the half at 54-53 with 6:59 left. Wisconsin's Keanton Nankivill answered with a three to tie the contest at 56, followed by another three pointer from Taylor that put the Badgers back on top, 59-56. Neither team was able to add to the score sheet over the next 3:28, when a Samspon III free throw made the score 57-59 with 2:00 minutes to play.
After a three point play by Taylor at 1:10 extended the Badger lead to four at 62-58, Samspon III hit a jumper to put the score at 62-60. That was as close as Minnesota would come however, as two Leuer free throws following his critical offensive rebound widened the margin to four. A pair of successful foul shots from Leuer and Taylor made the score 68-60 to end the game.
Taylor led the Badgers with 22 points and seven assists and Leuer scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
While both teams shot an identical 40.4 percent from the field, Wisconsin's nine three pointers to Minnesota's three was a huge factor. Minnesota was also unable to capitalize on a strong rebounding performance. The Gophers grabbed 37 rebounds, while the Badgers only hauled in 24.
Minnesota will next travel to East Lansing to take on #19 Michigan State on Dec. 31 at 4:00 p.m. in its second conference game.
