University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: UMKC
11/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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GOPHERS OVERCOME SLOW START
Carlos Morris scored the first points of the season for the Golden Gophers on a layup at the 15:47 mark, but it was one of just two field goals for Minnesota over the first eight-plus minutes, as the Gophers started the game just 2-of-14 from the field (including 0-of-8 from beyond the arc) and fell behind, 12-4. Minnesota twice trailed by as many as nine points before a 21-10 rally gave the Gophers a 32-30 lead at the half. Morris led the Gophers with 10 first-half points.
BLOCK PARTY
Last season, Minnesota's single-game high for blocked shots in a game was seven during a 70-61 loss at St. John's on November 26. Tonight, the Gophers had five blocked shots in the first half and equaled last season's team-high with a total of seven. Bakary Konate led the Gophers with three blocks, all in the first half, while Charles Buggs had a pair of rejections, and Nate Mason and Jordan Murphy each had one.
KING OF THE TREYS
Joey King had a great start to his senior season, as he tied his career-high with six three-point field goals and established a career-best with 22 points in 28 minutes. King finished the game 7-of-10 from the field, including 6-of-9 from behind the three-point line. His previous career-high for points had been 21 points on two occasions, most recently versus Missouri State on Jan. 5, 2013, when he was a member of the Drake Bulldogs. King also had six treys during Minnesota's 80-68 win versus Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament on March 11, 2015.
NEW FACES
Three new Gophers -- freshmen Kevin Dorsey Jr., Dupree McBrayer and Jordan Murphy -- made their collegiate debuts for the Maroon and Gold. Murphy finished with nine points, all in the second half, making 2-of-3 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws, while also tying for the team-high with five rebounds. Dorsey saw the most minutes (26), finishing with seven points, six assists and four rebounds, while McBrayer had three points, three boards and a pair of assists.
HEATING UP FROM LONG-RANGE
Minnesota missed its first 10 attempts from three-point range, but a trey by Nate Mason with 7:00 remaining in the first half sparked the Gophers, who closed the half by making 4-of-5 three-pointers. In the second half, the Gophers made 8-of-13 (.615) trifectas, making it 12-of-18 (.667) from three-point range after the frigid start. Joey King made six three-pointers, while Nate Mason and Carlos Morris each added a pair of treys.
SUCCESS IN OPENERS
Minnesota has now won 17 of its past 18 season-opening games (including vacated seasons), and the Gophers improved to 91-23 all-time in the first game of a season. Head coach Richard Pitino, who improved to 44-28 at Minnesota, is now 2-1 in season lidlifters with the Gophers.
