University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Western Carolina
11/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery
SERIES, ETC.
Today's 92-64 win was the second all-time meeting between Minnesota and Western Carolina (not counting vacated games), with the Gophers holding a 2-0 edge in the series (both in Minneapolis). The Gophers posted an 84-64 win on Dec. 14, 2014. Minnesota also defeated WCU during 1993-94 and 1997-98, but those games were later vacated by the NCAA. No. 14 / 15 Minnesota improved to 4-0 on the season, while WCU fell to 1-3. Head coach Richard Pitino is 2-0 against the Catamounts, and 4-0 against SoCon foes, while Minnesota now stands at 1,454-1,082 all-time. Coach Pitino's fifth-year record at Minnesota is 79-61, and his six-year career mark is 97-75.
STARTING FIVE
Coach Pitino utilized a starting lineup of seniors Nate Mason and Reggie Lynch, juniors Jordan Murphy and Dupree McBrayer, and sophomore Amir Coffey. Mason made his team-leading 73nd career start (67th consecutive) in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 58th consecutive time. Lynch, who transferred from Illinois State, has now started 37 games for the Gophers, while McBrayer started his 39th career game and Coffey made his 37th career start.
FIRST HALF UPDATE "ON THE 8'S"
Minnesota took a 42-33 lead to the locker room at the half, with 21 of the Gophers' 42 points coming off of 12 Western Carolina turnovers. The Gophers were led by three players, all with eight first-half points. Amir Coffey had eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals, while Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer each connected on a pair of three-pointers as part of their eight-point totals. Jordan Murphy added six points, and Reggie Lynch added four points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Jordan Murphy finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds to record his fourth double-double of the season. Murphy made 4-of-7 field goals and a career-high 15-of-19 free throws, registered 17 points and nine rebounds after the break. It was the 25th career double-double for Murphy, who has averages of 24.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, while making 35-of-57 (.614) field goals this season. Murphy is the first Gophers player to make 15 free throws in a game since Trevor Mbakwe connected on 16 versus Fairfield on Nov. 17, 2011.
CAUTION: THIS COFFEY IS HOT
Amir Coffey had 15 points, connecting on 6-of-12 field goals, to record his 25th career double-figure scoring game. Coffey added five rebounds, tied for team-high with four assists, and had two steals in 31 minutes. Coffey's averaging 14.0 ppg through four games this season.
THE Reggie Lynch BLOCK COMPANY
Reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Reggie Lynch just continues to do what he does so effectively, recording a game-high five blocked shots to go with six points and eight rebounds in just 16 minutes against WCU. Lynch, who was limited due to foul trouble for the first time this season, is averaging 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.4 blocked shots per game this season.
MASON NARROWLY MISSES DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Nate Mason just missed registering a double-double, as he scored 13 points to go with a season-high eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 24 minutes. Mason connected on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Through four games, Mason has 18 assists and just five turnovers.
NEW YORK GUARDS IN DOUBLE-DIGITS
Dupree McBrayer, a native of Queens, NY, made 5-of-6 field goals (2-of-3 treys) to finish with a season-high 14 points, while adding four assists (zero turnovers) in 23 minutes. Meanwhile, Isaiah Washington (Harlem, NY) recorded his first collegiate double-figure scoring game, as he came off the bench to tally 10 points and a steal in 18 minutes. McBrayer is averaging 11.0 points per game this season, while Washington is the top reserve scorer with an average of 7.5 ppg.
