University of Minnesota Athletics
Fast Break: Illinois
1/3/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
SERIES, ETC.
Tonight's 77-67 win was the 179th all-time meeting between Minnesota and Illinois, with the Illini holding a 114-65 lead in the series (not counting vacated games). Minnesota improved to 13-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, while Illinois fell to 10-6, 0-3 B1G. Head coach Richard Pitino is 3-3 against the Illini, and 32-50 against Big Ten foes, while Minnesota now stands at 1,463-1,085 all-time. Coach Pitino's fifth-year record at Minnesota is 88-64, and his six-year career mark is 106-78.
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 returned to the lineup after missing a game with a leg injury and made his 84th career start, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 70th consecutive time. Lynch, who transferred from Illinois State, has now started 49 games for the Gophers (99 career), while McBrayer started his 48th career game and Coffey made his 49th career start. The Gophers are 10-2 this season with tonight's starting lineup.
DEFENSE SETS THE TONE EARLY
Minnesota jumped out to a 17-2 lead, holding Illinois scoreless over the first five minutes and to two points over the first 8:48. The Illini opened the game 1-of-19 (.052) from the field and missed their first nine three-point attempts. The Gophers were led in the opening half by Jordan Murphy's six points and 11 rebounds, while Amir Coffey had 11 points and four boards, and Nate Mason had eight points and five assists.
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC HEART OF THE GAME AWARD
Amir Coffey made 6-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, to finish with 16 points and stretched his streak of double-figure scoring games to 11 straight (36 career). Coffey also grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists and blocked a shot. Coffey is averaging 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season.
HOME SWEET HOME
Minnesota continued its six-game home stand with tonight's win versus the Illini, improving to 10-1 at The Barn this season. The Gophers wrap up the home stand with Saturday's game versus Indiana before heading back on the road to face Northwestern on Jan. 10.
MR. DOUBLE-DOUBLE DOES IT AGAIN
Jordan Murphy led all players with 17 points and 17 rebounds for his 16th-straight double-double to start the season (37th career). Murphy, who leads the nation in double-doubles and is second in rebounding, was 6-of-13 from the field and 5-of-9 at the free throw line, while adding two assists in 35 minutes. Murphy's 17 boards included his 750th, and he now has 755, which ranks seventh all-time at Minnesota. Murphy leads the Big Ten with averages of 19.0 points and 12.9 rebounds per game.
MASON RETURNS, KEEPS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
When Nate Mason suffered an injury against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 23, there were questions about how long he'd be out of the lineup. Turns out, it was just one game, as the senior guard returned to the lineup tonight and tied Jordan Murphy for game-high scoring honors with 17 points to go with a team-best six assists. Mason now has 1,448 points for his career, which ranks ninth all-time at Minnesota. He passed Trent Tucker (1979-82, 1,445 points) this evening. Mason, a reigning First Team All-B1G guard, made 6-of-13 field goals, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, while also grabbing four rebounds and three steals. He is averaging 15.6 points and 4.3 assists.
McBRAYER RETURNS TO LINEUP, LEADS TEAM
Dupree McBrayer returned to the starting lineup after missing the past two games with a lower leg injury, and he paced the Gophers with 15 points versus Harvard. McBrayer connected on 4-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-6 trifectas, while going 4-of-4 at the line. He added four rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes. It was McBrayer's 29th career double-figure scoring game.
LYNCH RECORDS FIFTH CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Reigning B1G Defensive Player of the Year Reggie Lynch finished the game with 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots for his third double-double this season and the fifth of his Minnesota career. His seven blocks increased his season total to 66 (4.1 per game), while he now has 180 in two years with the Gophers, which ranks fifth all-time. Throw in his two seasons at Illinois State, and Lynch now has 369 career blocked shots.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND NUMBERS
Minnesota made just 13-of-34 (.382) first-half field goals, but the Gophers responded by making 12-of-21 (.571) in the second half to finish at 45.5 percent (25-of-55) … Minnesota had a 20-point lead, 28-8, at the 7:53 mark of the first half … the Gophers were outscored 34-4 in bench points … tonight's attendance was 11,597, and the Gophers are averaging 11,781 per game through 11 games … Dupree McBrayer had 12 points, and he moved past 650 for his career … Nate Mason has scored in double-figures in his past nine games played … Mason moved out of a tie with Kevin Burleson (2000-03) and now ranks second all-time at Minnesota with 447 career assists.
