University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes: Minnesota 76, Penn State 79
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
MINNESOTA MEN'S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State (16-15, 4-14 Big Ten) 79, Minnesota (17-14, 6-12 Big Ten) 76
Sunday, March 8, 2015 | Williams Arena | Minneapolis, Minn.
Attendance: 12,412 (14,625 capacity)
Team / Series Notes
• Today's game was the 32nd all-time meeting in men's basketball between Minnesota and Penn State, with the Gophers holding a 24-8 lead in the series (not counting Minnesota's vacated games).
• Minnesota has a 12-3 advantage in games played in Minneapolis. Penn State recorded its first win at The Barn since a 66-63 victory on March 6, 2011. It was the Nittany Lions' first Big Ten road win since defeating Northwestern, 59-32, on March 6, 2014.
• Head coach Richard Pitino's record at Minnesota fell to 42-27, while his three-year overall record now stands at 60-41.
• Today's game was Coach Pitino's fifth (3-2) against the Nittany Lions, and he is now 15-23 versus teams from the Big Ten. • Minnesota dropped to 13-5 at Williams Arena this season. The Gophers are now 31-8 at The Barn under Richard Pitino.
• Today's attendance was 12,412, and the Gophers conclude the regular season with an average home attendance of 12,188 through 18 games.
• The Gophers entered the game ranked fourth nationally in steals per game (9.8) and 16th in assists (15.8), and finished the game with a season-low three steals, while dishing out 16 assists versus PSU.
• Minnesota increased this season's team steals total to 297, which is one shy of a new single-season record (298 during 2007-08). Since Richard Pitino took over the program, the Gophers have recorded 586 steals in 69 games, an average of 8.5 per contest.
• The Gophers had just nine turnovers, and are averaging just eight turnovers per game over the past three contests.
• Three Minnesota players reached double figures for points, and eight of the 11 players who played in the game for the Gophers scored points.
• The Gophers made 8-of-21 (.381) three-pointers. It was the 27th time in 31 games this season that Minnesota made six or more treys in a game.
Individual Notes
• Senior forward Maurice Walker came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, while recording a double-double by also grabbing 11 rebounds. It was Walker's third double-double of the season (third career).
• Walker made 10-of-14 free throws, both career-best totals, and he was 8-of-14 from the field.
• Junior forward Joey King tied his season-high with 19 points, making 4-of-7 three-point attempts, while also tying his career-high with four assists.
• Senior guard Andre Hollins finished with 13 points, all of which came in the first half. He also grabbed seven rebounds in his 138th career game (120th start).
• Hollins increased his career point total to 1,752, and he remains fourth on Minnesota's all-time list. Randy Breuer (1979-82) is third with 1,777 points.
• Freshman guard Nate Mason had seven points and tied for team-high honors with four assists. • Junior guard Carlos Morris was held scoreless for the first time this season.
• Senior guard DeAndre Mathieu finished with four points and two rebounds, as he played in his 98th career game and made his 71st start (counting games at Morehead State during 2011-12).
• Senior guard Kendall Shell played in his 39th career game, and made his first start on Senior Day. He registered one assist.
