University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Indiana
2/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SERIES, ETC.
Today's game was the 158th all-time meeting, with Indiana holding a 93-65 lead in the series. The game was the 79th all-time meeting in Bloomington, with the Hoosiers holding a 59-19 lead in those games. Richard Pitino is now 2-3 versus Indiana. Coach Pitino's third-year record at Minnesota now stands at 49-44, and his four-year career mark is 67-58.
STARTING FIVE
For just the third time this season (second straight), head coach Richard Pitino utilized a starting lineup of junior Charles Buggs, sophomores Bakary Konate and Nate Mason, and freshmen Dupree McBrayer and Jordan Murphy. Mason is the lone Minnesota player to have started all 22 games for the Gophers this season.
NARROW MARGINS AGAINST RANKED FOES
Minnesota dropped its fourth single-digit game against a nationally-ranked Big Ten team this season, including its second narrow loss to No. 19 Indiana. At home, the Gophers led No. 1 Michigan State before falling by eight, led then No. 25 Indiana by as many as nine points in a seven-point setback, and dropped a dropped a four-point decision to No. 21 Purdue on Wednesday night. Today's six-point loss was Minnesota's fifth-straight by seven points or less, including its fourth-consecutive two-possession setback.
DORSEY SHINES OFF THE BENCH
Minnesota played short-handed on Saturday, as Carlos Morris was attending a friend's funeral, so solid bench play was essential for the Gophers. In stepped Kevin Dorsey, who came off the bench and tied for team scoring honors with a career-high 21 points on 10-of-19 field goals to go with four rebounds and a steal in 29 minutes. It was the fifth double-figure scoring output this season for Dorsey, whose previous best had been 16 points versus South Dakota State on Dec. 8. Dorsey had scored 19 points combined over the previous seven games.
MASON HAS ANOTHER SOLID OUTING
Nate Mason, who had 15 points and a career-high 12 assists Wednesday versus Purdue, tied Dorsey with a team-high 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting. It was Mason's 17th double-figure scoring game this season, and was his third career 20-point game. He added five assists, five rebounds and two assists while playing 39 minutes for the Gophers.
BACKCOURT TRIO
Minnesota's trio of guards in Nate Mason, Kevin Dorsey and Dupree McBrayer combined to play 104 minutes against the Hoosiers with zero turnovers. The Gophers turned the ball over just four times, tying its season-best effort against Michigan State on Jan. 2. The three players also combined for 50 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals against the Hoosiers.
INSIDE PRESENCE
Jordan Murphy and Bakary Konate played well inside for the Gophers. Murphy finished with seven points and six rebounds, while Konate had eight points and seven boards.
