University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Louisiana
11/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | USATSI Photo Gallery
SERIES, ETC.
Tonight's game was just the second all-time meeting, with Minnesota now holding a 2-0 lead in the series. Both games have been played in Minneapolis, with the Golden Gophers also posting a 94-73 win during the third round of the NIT on March 13, 1980. At that time, Louisiana was known as Southwest Louisiana. Head coach Richard Pitino is now 3-0 versus ULL. Coach Pitino's fourth-year record at Minnesota now stands at 52-51, and his five-year career mark is 70-65.
STARTING FIVE
Pitino utilized a starting lineup of juniors Nate Mason and Reggie Lynch, sophomores Dupree McBrayer and Jordan Murphy, and freshman Amir Coffey. Mason made his team-leading 34th career start in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 21st time and McBrayer made his 15th start. A redshirt junior, Lynch started his first game at Minnesota after transferring from Illinois State, and Coffey became the first Minnesota true freshman to start a season-opener since Andre Hollins (6 pts., 2 ast., 1 reb., 1 stl.) did so five years ago tonight, Nov. 11, 2011.
SEASON OPENERS
Historically, Minnesota has had success in season-opening games, as the Golden Gophers improved to 92-23 in those games dating back to the program's inception during 1896. The Gophers have won 18 of their past 19 season-openers (excluding vacated games). Minnesota's lone loss in the past 19 season lid-lifters was a 68-61 setback versus No. 8 Louisville during 2014-15.
FRESH FACES
Five players made their first appearances for the Gophers during tonight's game - graduate transfer Akeem Springs (11 points), redshirt junior Reggie Lynch (10 points, 8 rebounds, 4-6 FGs), and true freshmen Amir Coffey (13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Eric Curry (9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3-3 FGs) and Michael Hurt (2 points).
MASON MOMENTUM
Nate Mason led all scorers with 10 points in the first half, and he helped the Gophers build a 22-point lead (48-26) at the break by scoring eight points over the final 2:02. For the game, Mason tied for team-high honors with 15 points, while dishing out a team-best seven assists and grabbing four rebounds. The double-figure scoring output was the 38th of Mason's career.
FIVE PLAYERS REACH DOUBLE-FIGURES
Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer led five Minnesota players in double-figures with 15-point performances. The scoring total marked a career-high for McBrayer, who made 6-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-5 attempts from three-point range. Amir Coffey recorded 13 points in his collegiate debut, and transfers Akeem Springs and Reggie Lynch rounded out the quintet with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Eric Curry just missed joining the group, ending his first college game with nine points.
LONG-RANGE BOMBERS
Minnesota ended the game 10-of-25 from beyond the arc, making 10 three-pointers in a game for the first time since going 11-of-36 versus Illinois on Jan. 23, 2016. For the game, the Gophers made 27-of-53 (.509) field goals.
