University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Iowa
2/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
SERIES, ETC.
Tonight's 101-89 double-overtime victory was the 186th all-time meeting between Minnesota and Iowa (not counting vacated games), with the Gophers now holding a 99-87 lead (Minnesota leads 60-33 in Minneapolis). Minnesota improved to 17-7 overall and 5-6 in the B1G, while Iowa fell to 14-11 (6-6). Head coach Richard Pitino is 3-3 against Iowa, and 23-47 against Big Ten foes, while Minnesota now stands at 740-809 all-time in B1G play. Coach Pitino's fourth-year record at Minnesota is 68-58, and his five-year career mark is 86-72.
STARTING FIVE
For the fifth 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 59th career start in Maroon and Gold, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 44th time. Those two players have started every game this season. Lynch, a redshirt junior who transferred from Illinois State, has started 23 games for the Gophers, while Coffey also made his 23rd career start. Springs made his fifth start with the Gophers.
MURPHY HAS CAREER NIGHT
Jordan Murphy had a huge night for the Gophers against the Hawkeyes, as he finished with a career-high 25 points, 19 rebounds and four blocked shots. The point-rebound double-double was the sixth this season (15th career) for Murphy. He made 10-of-13 field goals and 5-of-7 free throws to help the Gophers post their second win in the past three games against Iowa. Murphy's previous best for points had been 24 versus Clemson on Nov. 30, 2015, and his career-best for rebounds in a game is 21, which he accomplished Dec. 27 against Michigan State.
MASON TIES FOR TEAM-HIGH
Nate Mason tied Jordan Murphy for team-high scoring honors with 25 points, while adding a team-best seven assists, five rebounds, and a career-best two blocked shots in 45 minutes. Mason was 9-of-21 from the field, which ties his high for field goals attempted in a game, and he was 5-of-5 at the charity stripe.
SPRINGS HOT FROM LONG-RANGE
Akeem Springs had a hot hand from long-distance, as he connected on 5-of-8 three-pointers and finished the night with 17 points to go with four steals (tying his career-high) and three assists. Since earning a spot in the starting lineup on Jan. 21 against Wisconsin, Springs has averaged 17 points and has made 18-of-36 trifectas over the five games.
OVERTIME, ETC.
Minnesota won its first double-overtime game (not counting vacated games) since an 89-80 win at Ohio State on Feb. 2, 1983. The win against the Hawkeyes was Minnesota's fourth extra session game in Big Ten play this season, and that is the most conference overtime games in a season since having five OT contests during the 1980-81 campaign. Minnesota is now 5-9 in overtime games versus Iowa.
MISCELLANEOUS ODDS AND ENDS
Among odds and ends in tonight's game, Dupree McBrayer recorded his 50th career steal … 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 had 13 points, six assists and three steals … the Gophers recorded 100 points for the first time since a 108-82 win over UNCW on Dec. 27, 2014 … Minnesota had a season-high 14 blocked shots, the fifth time this season it's had double-figure blocked shots … Minnesota held its 18th halftime lead, and the Gophers are 13-5 in those games … the Gophers improved to 8-1 this season when wearing their White uniforms … the attendance of 11,481 was Minnesota's second-largest home crowd this season.
