University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Indiana
2/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
SERIES, ETC.
Tonight's thrilling 75-74 win was the 159th all-time meeting between Minnesota and Indiana (not counting vacated games), with the Hoosiers now holding a 93-66 lead (Minnesota leads 45-34 in Minneapolis). Minnesota improved to 19-7 overall and 7-6 in the B1G, while Indiana fell to 15-12 (5-9). Head coach Richard Pitino is 2-3 against Indiana, and 25-47 against Big Ten foes, while Minnesota now stands at 742-809 all-time in B1G play. Coach Pitino's fourth-year record at Minnesota is 70-58, and his five-year career mark is 88-72.
MINNESOTA AT 7-6 IN B1G FOR FIRST TIMES SINCE 2008-09
The Gophers have now won four-straight Big Ten games to move to 7-6 in conference play for the first time since 2008-09. That season, Minnesota opened 7-5 before losing back-to-back games at Penn State and Michigan. Minnesota's last four-game conference winning streak took place in January, 2011, and its last five-game Big Ten winning streak in regular season play was a seven-game streak in 1977-78. The last time Minnesota reached 8-6 in league action was 2004-05, when the Gophers won their last four B1G games to go 10-6 in the conference and reached the NCAA Tournament.
STARTING FIVE
For the seventh time this season, Coach Pitino utilized a starting lineup of redshirt senior Akeem Springs, juniors Nate Mason and Reggie Lynch, sophomore Jordan Murphy, and true freshman Amir Coffey. Mason made his team-leading 61st career start (55th consecutive) in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 46th consecutive time. Lynch, a redshirt junior who transferred from Illinois State, has started 25 games for the Gophers, while Coffey also made his 25th career start. Springs made his eighth start with the Gophers.
FIRST-HALF RUNS GIVE GOPHERS A LEAD AT THE HALF
Minnesota opened the game by falling behind, 6-0, and did not score for the first four minutes. But the Gophers responded with a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the night. Then, after Indiana had regained the lead and stretched it to 22-12, Minnesota outscored the Hoosiers 19-4 to pull in front, 31-26, before ending the half with a four-point edge. The 33-29 lead was the 20th halftime advantage for the Gophers this season, and they are 15-5 in those games. Last season, Minnesota led at the half just nine times.
MURPHY HAS THIRD-STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Jordan Murphy, this week's co-Big Ten Player of the Week, finished with 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for his third-straight double-double. Murphy now has eight double-doubles this season, and 17 for his career. It is the third time he's managed three-consecutive double-doubles. Murphy was 4-of-6 from the field (including just his fourth three-pointer of the season), while making 5-of-8 free throws. He's reached double-figures for points 14 times this season, and has nine double-digit rebounding efforts.
MASON GOES OFF FOR THE BIG 3-0
Nate Mason laced 'em up and came ready to play, as he finished one point shy of his career-high, finishing with 30 points in the win against the Hoosiers. Mason, who scored 31 points in Minnesota's overtime win at Purdue on Jan. 3, connected on 8-of-19 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws to go with four assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals. The junior guard has reached double-figures 23 times this season, including doing so in the past six games.
COFFEY TIES REBOUNDING BEST
Amir Coffey was one of three Minnesota players to reach double-figures tonight, as he scored 17 points and tied his career-best with seven rebounds. Coffey was 6-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-3 from long-range, while also going 3-of-4 at the line and blocking a shot in 36 minutes. Coffey has now reached double-figures 17 times this season, including a current streak of seven straight games.
SPRINGS MAKES UP FOR OFF SHOOTING NIGHT BY HITTING GAME-WINNER
Akeem Springs had a rough night shooting the ball, as he made just 2-of-13 field goal attempts against Indiana and failed to make a three-pointer for the first time since Minnesota's win at Purdue on Jan. 3. But Springs saved his best for last, as he grabbed his own missed shot while driving to the basket and banking in the game-winner with 3.2 seconds remaining.
MISCELLANEOUS ODDS AND ENDS
Among odds and ends in tonight's game, Jordan Murphy grabbed his 200th rebound this season, as well as the 450th board of his career … Nate Mason grabbed his 250th career rebound … Reggie Lynch pulled down a season-best 12 rebounds and blocked a game-high six shot attempts … Jordan Murphy recorded his 50th career steal … Amir Coffey scored his 300th point and connected on his 100th field goal … Reggie Lynch reached 800 career points and 500 career rebounds … the Gophers are 11-4 in their past 15 home games versus Indiana … Minnesota held its 20th halftime lead, and the Gophers are 15-5 in those games … the Gophers improved to 8-2 this season when wearing their Gold uniforms … the attendance of 11,658 was Minnesota's second-largest home crowd this season.
