University of Minnesota Athletics
Trio of Newcomers Lift Gophers
11/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
First impressions are everything.
Not all newcomers around the country make an immediate impact for their team. In just their second game with Minnesota, freshmen Amir Coffey and Eric Curry along with redshirt junior Reggie Lynch, a transfer from Illinois State, all helped spark Minnesota's offense as the Gophers surged to a 84-67 victory over UT Arlington.
With the Gophers down by six at the half, Lynch got things rolling in the final frame, scoring the first six points of the half and pulling the Gophers within two. Thirty seconds later, Coffey took a long pass from sophomore Dupree McBrayer and slammed it down with two hands to tie the game at 43-all. . The Maroon and Gold never looked back, sparking a 22-1 run to extend their lead.
Lynch finished with a team-high 14 points on efficient 5-for-6 shooting. The Edina native stood out when it mattered most, 10 of his points and four of his five rebounds coming in the second half.
"Reggie brings the toughness to the team," McBrayer said after the game. "He is getting used to the Big Ten because he had to sit out last year, so game by game he is just getting better."
In his first two games with the Gophers, Lynch boasts 12.5 points per game, shooting an impressive 75 percent from the floor and adding 6.5 rebounds. The all-time leading shot blocker at ISU, Lynch has swatted five blocks in the first two contests.
Coffey overcame a slow first half where he was held scoreless to make a profound impact in the final 20 minutes. The Hopkins, Minn., natived scored all of his 10 points during that second half, marking his second double-figure scoring outing in as many games
Coming off the bench, fellow newcomer Eric Curry gave the Gophers a reliable scoring option when called upon. He scored 12 points on three of five shooting and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. The Memphis native was effective on the boards, snagging seven rebounds for the Gophers.
He is averaging 10.5 points per game on 75 percent shooting. Curry is also second on the team in rebounds, averaging 7.5 a game.
The three are helping contribute to not just success in the win column, but a different-looking Gopher squad.
"I think it shows that obviously this is not last year's team," said head coach Richard Pitino following Monday's win. "It's a totally different team with much more balance, which had six guys with double figures. It's a fun team to coach."
- by Danny Kobren, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
