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/ Men's BasketballPostgame Notes: Northwestern
1/5/2020 9:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SERIES, ETC.
This evening's 77-68 win was the 165th all-time meeting between Minnesota and Northwestern (not counting vacated games), with the Gophers leading the series, 97-68 (57-22 in Minneapolis). Minnesota improved to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern lost its fourth-straight to fall to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference. Coach Richard Pitino improved to 4-6 versus NU, and the tonight's victory was Pitino's first against the Wildcats at Williams Arena. Minnesota's all-time record now stands at 1,495-1,119 overall and 763-837 in the B1G (not counting vacated games). Coach Pitino's seventh-year record at Minnesota is 120-98, and his eight-year career mark is 138-112.
STARTING FIVE
Coach Pitino utilized a starting lineup of senior Alihan Demir (13th career start at Minnesota, 68th career start), redshirt sophomore Marcus Carr (14th start at Minnesota, 41st career start), sophomore Gabe Kalscheur (50th career start), sophomore Daniel Oturu (45th career start), and true freshman Tre' Williams (fourth career start)
FIRST HALF RECAP
Minnesota used a 13-2 run over a three-minute span to turn an 11-7 deficit into a 20-13 lead midway through the first half. The run was keyed by consecutive three-pointers from Alihan Demir, Gabe Kalscheur and Tre' Williams, and it helped Minnesota take a 34-25 lead to the locker room. Demir led the Gophers with seven points at the break, while also pulling down five rebounds. Kalscheur and Williams each hit a pair of three-pointers to score six points, while Daniel Oturu had six points and nine boards in the opening half.
SIZZLING FREE THROW SHOOTING
Minnesota tied a school record tonight by making a perfect 19-of-19 at the free throw line, and it continues a remarkable stretch at the line for the Gophers. Over their past four games, Gophers players have combined to make 75-of-81 (.926) attempts at the charity stripe, including 48-of-49 (.980) in the past two home games. The Gophers turned in one of the best performances in school history at the stripe versus FIU on Dec. 28, as they connected on 29-of-30 (.967) attempts before tonight's effort. Five times in its history (with a minimum of 12 attempts), Minnesota has had a perfect game at the line, but tonight's 19-of-19 was the best mark since the Gophers made 12-of-12 versus Wisconsin on Feb. 22, 1986.
OTURU DOES IT AGAIN
Daniel Oturu, who leads the Big Ten in double-doubles and rebounding, recorded his ninth double-double of the season (17th career) by finishing with team-highs of 19 points points and 16 rebounds. Oturu connected on 6-of-10 field goals and went 7-of-7 at the free throw line, while six of his boards came on the offensive end of the floor. He also tied career-highs with five blocked shots and three assists. For the week, Oturu averaged 24 points and 17 rebounds. Over his past seven games, Oturu has combined to make 61-of-92 (.663) field goals, and he's recorded double-doubles in five of his past six games.
DEMIR NARROWLY MISSES DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Alihan Demir narrowly missed his first double-double with the Gophers, as he ended tonight's game with 11 points and a season-best nine rebounds. In his past four games, Demir has averaged 7.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
CARR PLAYS ALL 40
Marcus Carr played the entire 40 minutes tonight for the Gophers, and he finished with 17 points, seven assists and a pair of steals. He was a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line, helping the team tie a school record by going 19-of-19.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS AND NOTES
Tre' Williams had his first career double-figure scoring game for the Gophers, as he finished with 10 points ... Minnesota outrebounded Northwestern, 43-28 and had an 18-6 advantage in second-chance points ... the Gophers were credited with 19 assists on 25 field goals ... tonight's attendance was 9,574.
This evening's 77-68 win was the 165th all-time meeting between Minnesota and Northwestern (not counting vacated games), with the Gophers leading the series, 97-68 (57-22 in Minneapolis). Minnesota improved to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern lost its fourth-straight to fall to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference. Coach Richard Pitino improved to 4-6 versus NU, and the tonight's victory was Pitino's first against the Wildcats at Williams Arena. Minnesota's all-time record now stands at 1,495-1,119 overall and 763-837 in the B1G (not counting vacated games). Coach Pitino's seventh-year record at Minnesota is 120-98, and his eight-year career mark is 138-112.
STARTING FIVE
Coach Pitino utilized a starting lineup of senior Alihan Demir (13th career start at Minnesota, 68th career start), redshirt sophomore Marcus Carr (14th start at Minnesota, 41st career start), sophomore Gabe Kalscheur (50th career start), sophomore Daniel Oturu (45th career start), and true freshman Tre' Williams (fourth career start)
FIRST HALF RECAP
Minnesota used a 13-2 run over a three-minute span to turn an 11-7 deficit into a 20-13 lead midway through the first half. The run was keyed by consecutive three-pointers from Alihan Demir, Gabe Kalscheur and Tre' Williams, and it helped Minnesota take a 34-25 lead to the locker room. Demir led the Gophers with seven points at the break, while also pulling down five rebounds. Kalscheur and Williams each hit a pair of three-pointers to score six points, while Daniel Oturu had six points and nine boards in the opening half.
SIZZLING FREE THROW SHOOTING
Minnesota tied a school record tonight by making a perfect 19-of-19 at the free throw line, and it continues a remarkable stretch at the line for the Gophers. Over their past four games, Gophers players have combined to make 75-of-81 (.926) attempts at the charity stripe, including 48-of-49 (.980) in the past two home games. The Gophers turned in one of the best performances in school history at the stripe versus FIU on Dec. 28, as they connected on 29-of-30 (.967) attempts before tonight's effort. Five times in its history (with a minimum of 12 attempts), Minnesota has had a perfect game at the line, but tonight's 19-of-19 was the best mark since the Gophers made 12-of-12 versus Wisconsin on Feb. 22, 1986.
OTURU DOES IT AGAIN
Daniel Oturu, who leads the Big Ten in double-doubles and rebounding, recorded his ninth double-double of the season (17th career) by finishing with team-highs of 19 points points and 16 rebounds. Oturu connected on 6-of-10 field goals and went 7-of-7 at the free throw line, while six of his boards came on the offensive end of the floor. He also tied career-highs with five blocked shots and three assists. For the week, Oturu averaged 24 points and 17 rebounds. Over his past seven games, Oturu has combined to make 61-of-92 (.663) field goals, and he's recorded double-doubles in five of his past six games.
DEMIR NARROWLY MISSES DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Alihan Demir narrowly missed his first double-double with the Gophers, as he ended tonight's game with 11 points and a season-best nine rebounds. In his past four games, Demir has averaged 7.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
CARR PLAYS ALL 40
Marcus Carr played the entire 40 minutes tonight for the Gophers, and he finished with 17 points, seven assists and a pair of steals. He was a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line, helping the team tie a school record by going 19-of-19.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS AND NOTES
Tre' Williams had his first career double-figure scoring game for the Gophers, as he finished with 10 points ... Minnesota outrebounded Northwestern, 43-28 and had an 18-6 advantage in second-chance points ... the Gophers were credited with 19 assists on 25 field goals ... tonight's attendance was 9,574.
Highlights: Gophers 67, Illinois 77
Saturday, January 17
Fan Sinks Half Court Shot
Friday, January 16
Highlights: Gophers 75, Wisconsin 78
Tuesday, January 13
Highlights: Gophers 69, USC 70 (OT)
Friday, January 09