University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: NIU
12/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery
SERIES, ETC.
Today's 77-57 win was the sixth all-time meeting between Minnesota and NIU, a member of the Mid-American Conference, with the Gophers holding a 6-0 lead (5-0 in Minneapolis). Head coach Richard Pitino is 1-0 against NIU, and 1-0 against MAC foes, while Minnesota now stands at 22-2 against current members of the MAC (excluding vacated games). Coach Pitino's fourth-year record at Minnesota now stands at 61-52, and his five-year career mark is 79-66. Minnesota is 10-1 for the first time since 2012-13, when the Gophers started 15-1.
STARTING FIVE
For the 10th time in 11 games, Coach Pitino utilized a starting lineup of juniors Nate Mason and Reggie Lynch, sophomores Dupree McBrayer and Jordan Murphy, and true freshman Amir Coffey. Mason made his team-leading 46th career start in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 31st time and McBrayer made his 25th start. Lynch, a redshirt junior who transferred from Illinois State, has started 10 games for the Gophers, while Coffey made his 11th career start. The Gophers are 8-1 with that starting unit this season.
7-11
During the Gophers' 10-1 start, seven of the Minnesota victories have been by double-digits. That figure matches the number of double-digit wins recorded by the 2012-13 team, which also stood at 10-1 through its first 11 games on its way to Minnesota's most recent NCAA Tournament appearance. Minnesota's average margin of victory in its seven double-figure wins this season is 19.4 points, with the largest margin being the 37-point win against Georgia Southern.
SPRINGS CONTINUES SOLID PLAY OFF BENCH
Akeem Springs began his collegiate career at Northern Illinois, averaging 7.7 points during his freshman season in 2012-13. This afternoon, Springs reached double figures in his third straight game for the Gophers, coming off the bench to score 10 points to go along with a season-high four steals and three rebounds. Springs has scored in double-figures seven times this season, and he's connected on three or more treys five times. Over his past three games, Springs is averaging 15.0 points per game.
MURPHY AND LYNCH RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Jordan Murphy and Reggie Lynch each finished with point-rebound double-doubles, becoming the first Minnesota duo to accomplish the feat in the same game since Murphy (19 points, 17 rebounds) and Joey King (17 points, 10 rebounds) each did so during a double overtime loss to South Dakota on Dec. 5, 2015. Murphy made 5-of-10 field goals, finishing with 12 points and 10 boards, while Lynch led the Gophers with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
LYNCH ADDS TO BLOCKED SHOT TOTAL
Reggie Lynch entered today's game atop the Big Ten and ranked fourth nationally in blocks per game. This afternoon, he swatted three more shots, increasing his season total to 38 in 10 games, an average of 3.8 per game. Lynch also scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds. Lynch, who missed the Southern Illinois game with an injury, is averaging 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds to go with his blocked shots figure. As a team, Minnesota leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally with an average of 6.8 blocks per game.
FIVE GOPHERS REACH DOUBLE-FIGURES
For the fifth time this season, Minnesota had five or more players reach double-figures in a game. Reggie Lynch led the team with 18 points, which ties his career-high. Lynch had previously scored 18 points at Southern Illinois on Feb. 7, 2015, while he was playing at Illinois State. His best with the Gophers this season had been 14 points against UT Arlington. Also scoring in double figures were Jordan Murphy (12 points), Nate Mason (11), Dupree McBrayer (10) and Akeem Springs (10). The Gophers have had two games with six players in double-figures this season.
FREE THROWS
Minnesota made 25-of-30 (.833) free throws in the game, helping it reach its 10th win in 11 tries this season. The 83.3 percent accuracy at the line was a season-best figure for the Gophers. Reggie Lynch led the Gophers by making 8-of-10 attempts, while Nate Mason was a 7-of-8. For the season, Minnesota players have combined to make 206-of-297 (.694) free throws this season.
MISCELLANEOUS ODDS AND ENDS
Among odds and ends in today's game, Bakary Konate grabbed his 250th career rebound … Nate Mason had his seventh game with five or more assists … Minnesota had 16 offensive rebounds, and is averaging 17 offensive rebounds in its past two games … After recording a season-best 10 steals against Georgia Southern on Friday night, the Gophers recorded nine steals this afternoon … Minnesota held its ninth halftime lead, and the Gophers are 8-1 in those games … the Gophers improved to 6-0 when wearing their White uniforms this season.
