University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Lose Second Straight at Michigan State, 71-62
1/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Trevor Mbakwe had 17 points and nine rebounds in the loss and Blake Hoffarber added 12 points. Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson both recorded seven points and four rebounds.
Michigan State (9-4) opened up the game scoring six of the first seven points and led 6-1 after the first 3:35 of play. Al Nolen then hit two free throws as Minnesota woke up over the next seven minutes with a 14-9 run to put the score at 15-14 at the 9:50 mark.
A three-pointer from Hoffarber finally gave the Gophers their first lead since the opening minute at 19-17 at 7:36 and Minnesota would be ahead the rest of the half. Minnesota had eight of nine players record a score in the first half and went into the locker room up 28-22. Trevor Mbakwe had six points and six rebounds for the visitors while Durrell Summers had 5 points at halftime for the host Spartans.
Both teams traded baskets to start the second half before the Spartans capped 10-4 run on a Summers three to nott the contest at 32 with 16:36 left in the half. Another Summer's three-pointer tied the game, 41-41 with 12:56 remaining. A Delvon Roe free throw gave Michigan State their first lead since the midway through the first half at 42-41 and the Spartans capitalized on the momentum to score eight of the next nine points to led 50-42 with 9:56 to play.
By the 4:54 mark, Michigan State had increased the gap to 15 at 59-44 and had full control of the contest. The closest Minnesota would come from that point was seven at 66-62 with just 34 seconds remaining.
Summers led the Spartans with 19 points and five rebounds, going four of eleven from behind the arc. Draymond Green had 14 points and Delvon Roe had 11 points and nine rebounds.
While both teams were about even in shooting percentage, the Spartans doubled the Gophers in three point production. Michigan State hit eight shot from behind the arc to Minnesota's four. Michigan State also controlled the turnover battle with only eight miscues to Minnesota's 14. Rebounding was even with the Spartans grabbed 30 boards and the Gophers had 29 rebounds.
Minnesota will next play Indiana on Tuesday Jan. 4 at 6 p.m in their first home game of the conference portion of the schedule
