University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northwestern
Gophers Drop Third Straight, Lose 64-53 at Northwestern
2/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2012
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Minnesota lost its third-straight game, dropping a 64-53 decision at Northwestern on a record-setting night for the Wildcats' John Shurna.
Shurna entered the game needing 17 points to become the school's all-time leading scorer, and he finished with 18 to give him 1,902 for his career. The senior forward broke Billy McKinney's record of 1,900 points, which had stood for 35 years, to help the Wildcats split the season series with the Gophers and break a tie in the Big Ten standings,
Northwestern improved its record to 16-10 overall and 6-8 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota fell to 17-10 overall and 5-9 in the conference.
Minnesota was led by junior guard Julian Welch's season-high 21 points, while freshman guard Joe Coleman broke a four-game scoreless stretch to finish with 12 points off the bench. Welch made 7-of-12 field goals, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, to finish in double-figures for the 18th time this season. His career-high of 25 points came during his freshman season at UC Davis.
Junior forward Rodney Williams added nine points and a game-high seven rebounds, but no other Minnesota player scored more than four points. The Gophers held a 41-20 advantage in rebounding, but committed 21 turnovers, which the Wildcats converted into 24 points.
The Gophers fell behind early, as Northwestern hit three treys in the opening four minutes to jump ahead, 11-4.
But Minnesota went on an 8-0 run following the first media timeout, with Williams scoring four points, to take its only lead of the game at 12-11.
Northwestern continued to make three-pointers, as it made a pair during a 12-4 run to quickly turn the Gophers' lead into a 24-16 NU advantage.
Coleman and Welch each scored, as the Gophers fought back to pull within 24-21, but that's when Shurna took control.
After being held scoreless through most of the first half, Shurna stole a pass near the top of the key and drove the length of the court for a dunk with 3:40 remaining in the half. He then closed the half by scoring the next 10 points, as the Wildcats took a 36-28 lead at intermission.
Northwesten quickly expanded its lead to 45-31 by opening the second half with an 8-3 run, which included five points from freshman guard Dave Sobolewski.
But Minnesota responded with a 9-2 run, including a pair of three-pointers by Welch, to cut NU's lead back to single digits at 47-40.
Northwestern quickly sank two more long-range shots, including the record-setting trey by Shurna, to stretch the lead back to 13 points, 53-40.
The Gophers got a layup from Coleman and a three from Welch to pull within eight points, 53-45, with 8:06 left. But Northwestern held Minnesota to three points over the next 7:22, building a 16-point lead, before Welch finally made a three-pointer with 0:43 remaining.
Sobolewski, who was held scoreless in Minnesota's 75-52 win over the Wildcats at Williams Arena on Jan. 22, led all scorers with 22 points.
Minnesota returns home to play host to nationally-ranked Michigan State on Wednesday evening at Williams Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. (CT), and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
--By Michael Molde, GopherSports.com
