University of Minnesota Athletics
12/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Mbakwe added 12 points of his own to record his team leading sixth double-double of the season, while Blake Hoffarber went four of six from behind the arc to finish with 14 points. Ralph Sampson scored 10 points and had five rebounds as Minnesota improved to 8-1 on the year.
The Gophers trailed for the first ten minutes of game before a Mbakwe lay in gave the team the led at 18-17 with 9:32 left in the half. Minnesota would lead St. Joseph's (3-6) the rest of the way.
Although Joseph led the Gophers with 8 first half points, it was the Minnesota bench who was primarily responsible for the team's 36-26 halftime lead. Led by freshman Mo Walker, Minnesota's bench outscored Saint Joe's reserves 16-0. Walker would finish the game with a career high 10 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
The Hawks opened the second half on an 11-2 run, managing to close the gap to just one point at 38-37 with 16:36 to play on a Carl Jones three. However, the Gophers responded with a run of their own, scoring the next 13 points to extend the margin to 51-37 behind a pair of three-pointers from Hoffarber.
St. Joe's made another run late in the contest and got with five at 68-63 with 4:04 left to play, but a Devoe Joseph jumper put the lead back to seven and the Hawks were unable to get any closer.
Carl Jones and Langston Galloway carried the Hawks with 29 and 21 points respectively.
Minnesota's bench play proved pivotal, as the Gopher's reserves outscored the St. Joe's bench 26-8. The Gophers had one of their better shooting performances of the season thus far, connecting on 48 percent (31-64) of their shots from the field and 47 percent from three (8-17).
The Gophers will next play at home against Eastern Kentucky (5-4) at noon on Sat. Dec. 11.
