University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
4-0
Santa Clara University
0-4
Gophers Push Past Santa Clara, 80-66
11/20/2018 11:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Gabe Kalscheur scored 18 of his 25 points in the first half, Jordan Murphy added 15 points and 17 rebounds, and Minnesota remained unbeaten with an 80-66 win over Santa Clara on Tuesday night.
The Golden Gophers (4-0) struggled to shake the Broncos on the second day of the Vancouver Showcase, but finally pulled away in the final 4 ½ minutes.
Kalscheur carried the Gophers during the first half, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring more than half of Minnesota's points in the first 20 minutes. Santa Clara paid more attention to the shooter in the second half, but that opened up opportunities for others. Minnesota also held a major advantage at the free-throw line attempting 37 compared to just nine for the Broncos. The Gophers made 23 at the line.
The foul disparity was finally enough for Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek, who was given three technical fouls in the process of getting ejected with 3:16 left after a disputed offensive foul on the Broncos.
Tahj Eaddy led Santa Clara (0-4) with 20 points and Keshawn Justice added 12. Sophomore forward Josip Vrankic was limited by foul trouble in the second half and finished with just 11 points before fouling out late.
Vrankic picked up two quick fouls and went to the bench with four fouls with 11:58 remaining. Santa Clara pulled even at 46 after consecutive 3s from Eaddy and Justice, but the Broncos struggled at both ends without Vrankic's presence on the inside. Daniel Oturu's three-point play gave Minnesota a 53-46 lead. The Broncos managed to hang around, but Vrankic fouled out with 4:14 remaining and the Gophers pulled away.
Dupree McBrayer, who finished with 15 points, provided the capper with a driving left-handed dunk while being fouled in the final minute.
In just his fourth game, Kalscheur set a new high for 3-pointers made in a game when he hit six in the first half. He had five 3-pointers in Minnesota's win over Utah.
Santa Clara led by as many as seven in the first half, but had its own shooting problems hitting one field goal in the final eight minutes of the half.
BIG PICTURE
Santa Clara: In the second game without all-conference guard KJ Feagin, the Broncos looked much more comfortable offensively in understanding roles. ... The Broncos were called for 28 fouls in the game, 20 in the second half.
Minnesota: Kalscheur was 6 of 10 shooting in the first half, the rest of the Gophers were 6 of 28. ... Minnesota had a 18-4 advantage in offensive rebounds and scored 17 second-chance points.
UP NEXT
Santa Clara: The Broncos are at San Jose State on Saturday.
Minnesota: The Gophers face Washington in the final game of the tournament on Wednesday.
