University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Oklahoma State
Minnesota Drops Close Contest to Oklahoma State, 62-60
12/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Oklahoma State (6-3) built a nine-point lead in the second half, but the Gophers fought to within two several times.
Nate Mason led the Gophers (5-5) with 14 points. Jordan Murphy, last week's Big Ten Conference freshman of the week, notched his third double-double in four games with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Jeff Newberry, the Cowboys' top scorer on the season with 13 points per game, returned to action wearing a protective face mask and saw just 11 minutes of action.
Minnesota managed to hang with Oklahoma State during the game's first 10 minutes despite shooting just 18 percent from the field. The Gophers eventually found their touch to twice lead by nine, but the Cowboys embarked on a 10-point run over the half's final five minutes and appeared poised to escape to the locker room with a 1-point edge.
But Minnesota used the half's final four seconds to feed Ahmad Gilbert for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from a couple yards behind the arc to give the Gophers a 30-28 halftime lead.
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TIP INS
Saturday night's game marked the sixth meeting between Minnesota and Oklahoma State, and the series is now tied 3-3. During the teams' previous meeting on Dec. 15, 1986, Oklahoma State topped Minnesota 77-66 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
UP NEXT
The Gophers return home to Williams Arena to host Chicago State on Wednesday night. The Cowboys travel home to Stillwater to take on Longwood on Tuesday night.
