University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Alabama A&M
11/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery
SERIES, ETC.
Tonight's 100-57 win was the first all-time meeting between Minnesota and Alabama A&M. No. 14/15 Minnesota improved to 5-0 on the season, while Alabama A&M dropped to 0-4. Head coach Richard Pitino is 1-0 against the Bulldogs, and 2-0 against SWAC foes, while Minnesota now stands at 1,455-1,082 all-time and 5-0 versus teams from the SWAC (not counting vacated games). Coach Pitino's fifth-year record at Minnesota is 80-61, and his six-year career mark is 98-75.
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 74th career start (68th consecutive) in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 59th consecutive time. Lynch, who transferred from Illinois State, has now started 38 games for the Gophers (88 career), while McBrayer started his 40th career game and Coffey made his 38th career start.
FIRST HALF UPDATE
Minnesota took a 47-25 lead at the half, as the Gophers have now held halftime leads in all four home games this season. The Gophers were paced by 12 points apiece from Nate Mason and Jordan Murphy, while Amir Coffey added seven and Davante Fitzgerald had six. Minnesota's inside dominance was reflected in the fact that Alabama A&M made 5-of-9 first half-three pointers, but just 4-of-18 from inside the arc.
SKI-U-MURPH
Jordan Murphy finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds to record his fifth double-double of the season. Murphy made 9-of-10 field goals, had five of his rebounds on the offensive end of the floor, and tied his career high with four steals in 22 minutes. It was the 26th career double-double for Murphy, who has averages of 23.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, while making 44-of-67 (.657) field goals this season.
COFFEY SERVICE
Amir Coffey dished out a season-high eight assists, just one off his career-high, while adding nine points and grabbing five rebounds in 22 minutes. Coffey's averaging 13.0 points and 4.0 assists through five games this season.
THE Reggie Lynch BLOCK COMPANY
Reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Reggie Lynch recorded a game-high four blocked shots as part of a team total of 10 rejections in the game. Lynch added 11 points of 5-of-7 shooting and seven rebounds in just 18 minutes against AAMU. Lynch is averaging 12.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots per game this season.
MASON MOVES UP ALL-TIME SCORING CHART
Nate Mason scored all 12 of his points in the first half, making 5-of-11 field goals in 18 minutes, to give him 1,282 career points. Mason passed Arriel McDonald for 18th all-time at Minnesota. McDonald scored 1,273 points for the Gophers during 1990-94. Mason, a reigning First Team All-B1G guard, is averaging 13.6 points and 4.0 assists with just five turnovers through five games.
NEWCOMERS STAND OUT
Devante Fitzgerald and Jamir Harris each recorded their first career double-digit scoring games as members of the Gophers. Fitzgerald made all five of his field goal attempts and was 3-of-3 at the line to finish with 13 points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes. Harris tallied 11 points by knocking down 4-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-5 from long-range. Isaiah Washington added six points and tied for team-high honors with eight assists.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND NUMBERS
Minnesota started a season 5-0 for the 40th time in school history … Minnesota made 43-of-70 (.614) field goals as a team, its first game at 60 percent or above since making 36-of-60 (.600) versus North Dakota on Dec. 8, 2014 … tonight's attendance was 10,704, and the Gophers are averaging 10,685 per game through four games … Nate Mason played in his 99th career game … Gaston Diedhiou recorded career-highs of six points and three blocked shots in just eight minutes … Dupree McBrayer recorded his 175th career assist … Jordan Murphy played in his 70th career game and moved past 850 career points … Davante Fitzgerald recorded his 100th career field goal and moved past 275 career points combined between Texas A&M and Minnesota.
