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The Gopher men’s basketball went over the river and through the city to U.S. Bank Stadium for a special matchup against Oklahoma State. It was a small trial run to prepare for hosting the Final Four in April. Minnesota showed balance, featuring five players in double figures. Jordan Murphy dominated, scoring 24 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Guard Isaiah Washington also added 15 points in an 83-76 win.
Minnesota committed a staggering 19 turnovers, but managed to get enough scoring output from Jordan Murphy to fend off Oklahoma State scoring surges. Gabe Kalscheur also drilled several timely three-pointers to end long runs. The Gophers led by as many 18 points, but the Cowboys narrowed the margin to five points with 30 seconds left. This was a direct reflection of Minnesota’s offensive inconsistences and turnovers.
However, it didn’t take long for Gophers’ big-man Jordan Murphy to warm up the new court. Murphy opened the game with a big slam and three-pointer as Minnesota started the game with a quick 5-0 lead. Oklahoma State began to push the tempo and Lindy Waters drilled a trey to fuel a 13-0 Oklahoma State run. Minnesota had six quick turnovers and it allowed the Cowboys to get on the run for easy baskets and transition threes. Following two quick scores by Murphy, the Gophers went 1-for-11 from the floor and only trailed by six points. Murphy had 13 of Minnesota’s first 18 points and carried them early. The Gophers’ big-man scored 24 points and added 16 rebounds. He posted his 51st career double-double, tying Randy Brewer’s school-record for career double-doubles (51).
The Gophers slowly trimmed the Oklahoma State during a 9-0 run over 1:54. A block by Matz Stockman led to an easy transition basket for Amir Coffey. Stockman had three blocked shots that helped the Gophers get out in transition. He also delivered several excellent passes out of the post to help Minnesota’s offense get into a rhythm. Isaiah Washington added several tough shots in the paint and provided valuable first half minutes. Washington had 15 points and helped get the offense moving. When Washington is in the game, Minnesota can push the tempo and get quick entry passes or trailing three-pointers. The Gophers suddenly led by seven points behind five consecutive made baskets to end the half. Minnesota put the foot on the gas during the final eight minutes of the first half and showed continued success out of the break.
Dupree McBrayer started to get his shot rolling. McBrayer was held scoreless in Monday’s loss at Boston College and hit two quick three-pointers out of halftime. He had ten points on 4-for-6 shooting. The Gophers opened the second half on 10-0 run over 2:16 and held Oklahoma State scoreless over 2:52. Minnesota started to get more active contributions from its guards as the game progressed. Gabe Kalscheur hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 14 points with just over 14 minutes remaining. He had 14 points, including three made shots from behind the arc.
Minnesota’s defense had a tendency to be a step slow throughout the night and Oklahoma State rotated to hit timely three-pointers. This was an inconsistent occurrence, but is something the Gophers will need to continue improving, especially close-outs. The Cowboys finished 10-for-19 from three-point land in Friday night’s game. Perimeter defense is clearly an area Minnesota will need to clean up as conference play quickly approaches.
Minnesota also had two defensive sequences where they held Oklahoma State scoreless over long stretches. The most prominent came in the second half when the Cowboys had zero points over a four minutes. Minnesota pulled away when Oklahoma State posted a 2-for-11 scoring drought at the midway point of the second half. They eventually stormed back with a 12-0 scoring run late in the game, but Minnesota managed to stall the surge. Several sloppy possessions and turnovers kept the Cowboys within striking distance all night. Two timely Gabe Kalscheur three-pointers pulled the Gophers out of scoring ruts they faced. His corner trey helped fend off a 6-for-8 shooting surge by Oklahoma State down the stretch.
The Gophers will need to continue improving their offensive possessions. They committed 19 turnovers, several of which were the result of poor passes or stagnant offensive sets. This number will need to be drastically lower for the Gophers to compete against top-level competition in the Big Ten.
Minnesota used timely runs and defensive stretches to pull away. This team is prone to five-minute stretches where everything locks up offensively. Cleaning up possessions, improving perimeter defense and taking care of the basketball are all areas this team must address in the coming weeks.
VIDEO:
Minnesota committed a staggering 19 turnovers, but managed to get enough scoring output from Jordan Murphy to fend off Oklahoma State scoring surges. Gabe Kalscheur also drilled several timely three-pointers to end long runs. The Gophers led by as many 18 points, but the Cowboys narrowed the margin to five points with 30 seconds left. This was a direct reflection of Minnesota’s offensive inconsistences and turnovers.
However, it didn’t take long for Gophers’ big-man Jordan Murphy to warm up the new court. Murphy opened the game with a big slam and three-pointer as Minnesota started the game with a quick 5-0 lead. Oklahoma State began to push the tempo and Lindy Waters drilled a trey to fuel a 13-0 Oklahoma State run. Minnesota had six quick turnovers and it allowed the Cowboys to get on the run for easy baskets and transition threes. Following two quick scores by Murphy, the Gophers went 1-for-11 from the floor and only trailed by six points. Murphy had 13 of Minnesota’s first 18 points and carried them early. The Gophers’ big-man scored 24 points and added 16 rebounds. He posted his 51st career double-double, tying Randy Brewer’s school-record for career double-doubles (51).
The Gophers slowly trimmed the Oklahoma State during a 9-0 run over 1:54. A block by Matz Stockman led to an easy transition basket for Amir Coffey. Stockman had three blocked shots that helped the Gophers get out in transition. He also delivered several excellent passes out of the post to help Minnesota’s offense get into a rhythm. Isaiah Washington added several tough shots in the paint and provided valuable first half minutes. Washington had 15 points and helped get the offense moving. When Washington is in the game, Minnesota can push the tempo and get quick entry passes or trailing three-pointers. The Gophers suddenly led by seven points behind five consecutive made baskets to end the half. Minnesota put the foot on the gas during the final eight minutes of the first half and showed continued success out of the break.
Dupree McBrayer started to get his shot rolling. McBrayer was held scoreless in Monday’s loss at Boston College and hit two quick three-pointers out of halftime. He had ten points on 4-for-6 shooting. The Gophers opened the second half on 10-0 run over 2:16 and held Oklahoma State scoreless over 2:52. Minnesota started to get more active contributions from its guards as the game progressed. Gabe Kalscheur hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 14 points with just over 14 minutes remaining. He had 14 points, including three made shots from behind the arc.
Minnesota’s defense had a tendency to be a step slow throughout the night and Oklahoma State rotated to hit timely three-pointers. This was an inconsistent occurrence, but is something the Gophers will need to continue improving, especially close-outs. The Cowboys finished 10-for-19 from three-point land in Friday night’s game. Perimeter defense is clearly an area Minnesota will need to clean up as conference play quickly approaches.
Minnesota also had two defensive sequences where they held Oklahoma State scoreless over long stretches. The most prominent came in the second half when the Cowboys had zero points over a four minutes. Minnesota pulled away when Oklahoma State posted a 2-for-11 scoring drought at the midway point of the second half. They eventually stormed back with a 12-0 scoring run late in the game, but Minnesota managed to stall the surge. Several sloppy possessions and turnovers kept the Cowboys within striking distance all night. Two timely Gabe Kalscheur three-pointers pulled the Gophers out of scoring ruts they faced. His corner trey helped fend off a 6-for-8 shooting surge by Oklahoma State down the stretch.
The Gophers will need to continue improving their offensive possessions. They committed 19 turnovers, several of which were the result of poor passes or stagnant offensive sets. This number will need to be drastically lower for the Gophers to compete against top-level competition in the Big Ten.
Minnesota used timely runs and defensive stretches to pull away. This team is prone to five-minute stretches where everything locks up offensively. Cleaning up possessions, improving perimeter defense and taking care of the basketball are all areas this team must address in the coming weeks.
VIDEO:
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