MINNEAPOLIS - When 6-foot-11 freshman center Kyle Sanden - whose role is primarily to get down and dirty with the big boys in the paint - drained his second 3-pointer of the year in only his third attempt of the season, it was clear Michigan was in for a long day.
Maybe the center from Thief River Falls, Minn., felt the effects of the balmy 30-40 degree temperatures in the Minneapolis area - a treat for a city that usually struggles to get out of single digits around this time of year. Maybe El Nino not only
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| SARA STILLMAN/Daily Minnesota guard Kevin Clark throws his hands up in celebration and Michigan guard Louis Bullock can only look on in the waning moments of Saturday's 88-78 victory over the Wolverines in WIlliams Arena. The Gophers put on a long-range shooting clinic, draining 14 3-pointers on 20 attempts and shooting 68 percent from the field in the second half. |
Whatever the explanation, the Gophers were sizzling. Minnesota, which scored just 15 points in the first half of Michigan's 65-57 victory at Crisler Arena two weeks ago, used a 68-percent second-half shooting performance and a 3-point clinic Saturday afternoon to defeat the Wolverines, 88-78, in front of a rowdy crowd of 14,714 at Williams Arena.
"Our defense wasn't very good today," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "We're not a team that can give up 88 points and expect to win. The tempo wasn't too bad, but we would have liked it a little more to our advantage.
"But when they are making threes like that, the score balloons quickly."
The Gophers' 14 3-pointers, highlighted by backcourt mates Eric Harris 5-of-6 and Kevin Clark's 4-of-6 3-point shooting, set a school record and temporarily tied the Big Ten mark for most threes in a game. (Purdue broke the record later that night.)
Minnesota made 17 of 25 from the field, causing even Minnesota coach Clem Haskins to marvel at his team's shooting performance.
"Wow," Haskins said. "Who said those Gophers couldn't shoot?"
Michigan (7-4 Big Ten, 17-7 overall) lost at Williams Arena for the fourth consecutive time, a streak that dates back to the Fab Five days in 1993. With the loss, the Wolverines dropped to fifth place in the Big Ten and fell three games behind conference leader Michigan State with five games left on the conference slate.
The loss to Minnesota (3-8, 9-12) also means that members of Michigan's senior class - Travis Conlan, Jerod Ward and Maceo Baston - can't say that they ever came away victorious from an arena known as "The Barn" in their collegiate careers.
"My four years they have never beat us here," said senior point guard Harris. "That's a great accomplishment because Michigan has good teams year-in and year-out. I think we have their number."
Harris had the biggest hand in keeping that streak alive in Minneapolis. He led the Gophers with 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Many of the charity shots came in the waning minutes of the game, putting an end to the Wolverines' comeback.
The number that Minnesota had wrapped around its finger all afternoon was Michigan's No. 11 - Louis Bullock. Bullock couldn't get himself going against the Minnesota zone and Clark chased the Wolverines' sharpshooter all over the court, preventing him from setting his feet and getting comfortable.
Bullock scored 12 points and hit 2 of 6 3-pointers. Michigan was led by Baston's career-high 27 points on 7-of-10 shooting and (13 of 14 from the free throw line) and added four blocks.
Robert Traylor had 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting, but was frustrated by Minnesota's tight, physical interior defense.
Conlan added 12 points and six assists. Conlan, Traylor and Ward all fouled out.
Minnesota used a balanced attack. In addition to Harris, forwards Sam Jacobson and Quincy Lewis each scored 19 points, including two triples apiece, while Clark scored 17.
Down 36-34 at halftime, Minnesota came out of its locker room and just couldn't miss.
The Gophers' hit 10 of their first 12 field goals, including seven 3-pointers - three by Harris, two by Lewis and two by Clark - all in the first 11 minutes of the half to turn a two-point lead into a 71-55 cushion with 7:34 remaining in the game.
"I don't know if they ran a lot of offense in the second half," Ellerbe said. "They just dribbled around, pulled up and shot."
The Wolverines tried to step up their defense, but every time the Gophers got the ball, they took one step back, let it fly and swish.
"When they start making threes, obviously you've got to adjust," Conlan said. "But once it gets to that point, there's not a whole lot you can do."
Michigan made it interesting in the final minutes, coming back from 16 down to cut into the Minnesota lead.
The Wolverines went on a 16-6 run and trailed by only six after Conlan made 1 of 2 free throws with 1:46 remaining.
But Minnesota held on after Bullock drained a 3-pointer to make the score 82-76 with 56 seconds left.
Clark converted 1 of 2 free throws, and Jacobson got free for a two-handed breakaway slam to seal the victory and send the Gophers and their fans into a frenzy.
02-09-98
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