University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2011
MINNESOTA MEN'S BASKETBALL
POSTGAME NOTES
Minnesota (3-0) 67, Fairfield (1-2) 57
Williams Arena (14,625) • Minneapolis, Minn.
November 17, 2011 • Attendance: 10,641
SERIES NOTES
• Tonight's game was the first meeting between Minnesota and Fairfield. The Gophers are 5-3 against members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
• Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith is 6-0 all-time against teams from the MAAC, but this was the first time one of his teams had faced the Stags.
• It's possible that Minnesota and Fairfield might meet for the second time in a little more than a week when both teams participate at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 24-27. If they face each other, it'd be in the championship game.
TEAM NOTES
• Minnesota held Fairfield to 24 first-half points, the fewest allowed by the Gophers in an opening half since holding Michigan State to 19 points at Williams Arena on Feb. 22, 2011. It was the fewest versus a non-conference foe since #8 North Carolina was held to 24 points in the first half of Minnesota's 72-67 win at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Nov. 19, 2010.
• The Gophers committed 23 turnovers in the win, while forcing 20 turnovers by the Stags.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Senior forward/center Ralph Sampson III played his 100th career game and was in the Golden Gophers' starting lineup for the 90th time. Sampson finished with eight points, two rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots.
• Senior forward Trevor Mbakwe recorded his 30th career game in double-figures with a game-high 20 points, and also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for his 22nd career double-double. Dating to last season, Mbakwe has recorded double-doubles in six consecutive games.
• Mbakwe made a career-high 16 free throws in 18 attempts (88.9 percent). For the season, he's made 30-of-40 (.750) attempts at the line. Minnesota's single-game school record is 17 free throws made by Larry Mikan versus Purdue on Jan. 25, 1969.
• Redshirt freshman forward Oto Osenieks scored a career-high eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, and made a pair of key three-pointers to help Minnesota build its lead in the second half. Osenieks had the Gophers' lone three-point field goals in the contest, as he was 2-for-3 and Minnesota finished 2-for-8.
• Freshman guard Andre Hollins recorded his first career double-figure scoring game with 12 points. Hollins was 2-for-3 from the field and 8-for-9 at the free throw line, while also adding a career-high four rebounds.
