University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
2/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
SERIES, ETC.
Tonight's 86-82 win was the 188th all-time meeting between Minnesota and Iowa, with the Gophers holding a 100-88 lead in the series (not counting vacated games). The Gophers are 61-33 in games played in Minneapolis. With the victory, Minnesota improved to 15-15 overall and 4-13 in the Big Ten, while Iowa fell to 12-18, 3-14 B1G. Head coach Richard Pitino is 4-4 against the Hawkeyes, and 33-58 against Big Ten foes, while Minnesota now stands at 1,465-1,097 all-time. Coach Pitino's fifth-year record at Minnesota is 90-76, and his six-year career mark is 108-90.
STARTING FIVE
Coach Pitino utilized a starting lineup of seniors Nate Mason and Bakare Konate, juniors Jordan Murphy and Dupree McBrayer, and sophomore Michael Hurt. Mason made his 98th career start, while Murphy was in the starting lineup for the 84th consecutive time. McBrayer started his 60th career game, while Konate made his 36th career start, and Hurt made his 12th start this season.
MASON SHINES IN HOME FINALE
Nate Mason led all players with 33 points, just one off his career-high, in his final game at The Barn. It was his second game this season with 30 or more points, and the fourth of his career. Mason now has 1,701 points for his career, which ranks seventh on Minnesota's all-time scoring list, and he needs just four points to pass Kevin McHale (1977-80, 1,704 points) for sixth on Minnesota's all-time scoring list. For the game, Mason made 11-of-19 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws, while also leading the team with six assists. Mason, a reigning First Team All-B1G guard, is averaging 16.8 points and 4.3 assists per game.
MURPHY RECORDS DOUBLE-DOUBLE NUMBER 23
Jordan Murphy had 10 points and tied for team-high honors with 10 rebounds for the Gophers, to record his NCAA-leading 23rd double-double this season. The junior also finished with a career-best five steals, which is the most by a Gophers player this season. Murphy is averaging 17.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
MURPHY CLIMBS ALL-TIME REBOUNDING CHART
Murphy now has 891 career rebounds, which ranks fifth all-time at Minnesota. He needs 14 more boards to pass Richard Coffey (1987-90, 904 reb.) for fourth. This season, Murphy has 342 rebounds, which is 42 more than he had last season and ranks second for a single season. Larry Mikan holds the record at Minnesota, with 349 boards during the 1969-70 season.
McBRAYER REACHES DOUBLE-DIGITS
Dupree McBrayer made 8-of-13 free throws and knocked down 2-of-6 three-pointers, as he tallied 13 second-half points to finish with 16 for the game. It was McBrayer's first double-figure scoring game since having 11 points versus Northwestern on Jan. 23, but is his 10th double-digit game of the season.
KONATE GRABS SEASON-HIGH 10 REBOUNDS
Bakary Konate worked hard on the boards in his final game at Williams Arena, as he pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds (five offensive) in 20 minutes. It was the sixth career double-digit rebounding game for the 6-foot-11 senior, but his first since having five such games during 2015-16. Konate's career-high is 14 rebounds versus Wisconsin on March 2, 2016.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND NUMBERS
Minnesota held the Hawkeyes to 19 first-half points, marking the first time the Gophers had held an opponent under 20 points in a half since limiting Georgia Southern to 17 points during the second half on Dec. 9, 2016 … the Gophers led by 12 at the half, but shot just 35.3 percent (12-of-34) … Minnesota was outscored 63-55 in the second half, but the Gophers made 15-of-27 (.556) field goals, including 5-of-9 (.556) treys … Minnesota led the game from start to finish, opening the game by building a 22-2 lead … tonight's attendance was 11,732, and the Gophers ended their 17-game home slate by averaging 11,850 per game … Nate Mason recorded his 400th career rebound tonight … Jordan Murphy moved past 1,250 career points tonight and reached double-figures for the 12th straight game.
