Minnesota (12-10, 6-6) has come out slow the past couple of games. On Wednesday, the Gophers opened on fire against Wisconsin (13-10, 6-6). They scored on their first seven possessions and eight of their first nine. By the time the first media timeout rolled around at the 14:20 mark, Daniel Oturu and Payton Willis both had 6, Alihan Demir had 4, and Marcus Carr 2. The problem was that Wisconsin was shooting darts well enough to stay in striking range to the tune of an 18-14 score.
One reason for the early surge was the return of Payton Willis. A 3-pointer with 11:32 remaining gave him his eleventh point and stretched the Minnesota lead to 23-16. A Gabe Kalscheur jumper two minutes later moved the lead to eleven, and forced Greg Gard to call a timeout with the Gophers leading 29-18.
That is all Minnesota would need. They scored 29 points in the first eleven minutes and 41 in the next twenty-nine minutes. Wisconsin shot just 28.4% overall, and it was obvious early on that even when the Gophers cooled off, the Badgers did not have the horses to keep up.
Both teams began to cool off from the field, and the lead stayed in the eleven-point area. Kalscheur upped that to thirteen with a three-pointer and Oturu moved it up two more on the next possession as the Gophers took a 40-25 edge with 2:12 remaining in the first half.
The lead got as high as seventeen in the final minutes. Wisconsin scored the last four points of the half go into the half trailing 45-32.
Minnesota shot a blistering 54.5% in the first half by making 18 of 33. They were 5 fo 10 from deep and 4 of 7 from the line. They also had an unheard of 11 assists against just one turnover.
Payton Willis had 13 points on 3 of 5 three-point shooting. Daniel Oturu added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur both had 8. Kalscheur was 2 of 3 from behind the arc. Alihan Demir had and Isaiah Ihnen had 2.
For Wisconsin, Nate Reuvers led the team with 12 points. Aleem Ford was next in scoring with 8 points. They shot 35.5%, and 46.2% from three as they made 6 of 13 attempts.
The Gophers started the second half right where they ended the first. After a stop on one end, Kalscheur drained a trifecta on the other end. Oturu nailed a three of his own the next time down to stretch the lead to 51-32, and force Gard to burn another timeout.
Both teams went back and forth over the next few minutes. Willis continued his hot hand by knocking down his fourth 3-pointer for the game and giving Minnesota its biggest lead to that point of the game at 65-43 with 8:11 remaining.
The Gophers shooting cooled somewhat as well, but they were still shooting 48% which will win most nights. On the other hand, after starting out five for eight, the Badgers were just 14 for 59 for 23.7% the rest of the way.
Wisconsin would chip away at the lead, but the final result was never in jeopardy. Minnesota would score just two points in the next seven minutes and three seconds. The Badgers trimmed it to 67-52 before Willis drained another three at the 1:08 mark, and that is where the score would stand as the Gophers won comfortably 70-52.
Minnesota was just 7 of 28 in the second half for 25%, but 41% for the game was plenty good enough. They made nine 3-pointers and shot 40.9% from deep. They were 11 of 16 from the line. The assist to turnover ratio was 16 to 5.
Payton Willis had a great game back. He made 5 of 7 three's and finished with 21 points. Daniel Oturu had yet another double-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and he also had 4 blocked shots. Marcus Carr came as close as one could come to a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Gabe Kalscheur was the fourth Gopher in double figures with 11.
Wisconsin's offensive stats were putrid. They were 28.4% from the field, and 24.1% from behind the arc.
Nate Reuver led the Badgers with 14, Aleem Ford and Micah Potter both had 11, D'Mitrik Price added 10, Brad Davison 4, and Tyler Wahl 2.
Minnesota now heads into a tough environment at State College on Saturday, when No. 22 Penn State looks to avenge an earlier loss in The Barn.
One reason for the early surge was the return of Payton Willis. A 3-pointer with 11:32 remaining gave him his eleventh point and stretched the Minnesota lead to 23-16. A Gabe Kalscheur jumper two minutes later moved the lead to eleven, and forced Greg Gard to call a timeout with the Gophers leading 29-18.
That is all Minnesota would need. They scored 29 points in the first eleven minutes and 41 in the next twenty-nine minutes. Wisconsin shot just 28.4% overall, and it was obvious early on that even when the Gophers cooled off, the Badgers did not have the horses to keep up.
Both teams began to cool off from the field, and the lead stayed in the eleven-point area. Kalscheur upped that to thirteen with a three-pointer and Oturu moved it up two more on the next possession as the Gophers took a 40-25 edge with 2:12 remaining in the first half.
The lead got as high as seventeen in the final minutes. Wisconsin scored the last four points of the half go into the half trailing 45-32.
Minnesota shot a blistering 54.5% in the first half by making 18 of 33. They were 5 fo 10 from deep and 4 of 7 from the line. They also had an unheard of 11 assists against just one turnover.
Payton Willis had 13 points on 3 of 5 three-point shooting. Daniel Oturu added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Marcus Carr and Gabe Kalscheur both had 8. Kalscheur was 2 of 3 from behind the arc. Alihan Demir had and Isaiah Ihnen had 2.
For Wisconsin, Nate Reuvers led the team with 12 points. Aleem Ford was next in scoring with 8 points. They shot 35.5%, and 46.2% from three as they made 6 of 13 attempts.
The Gophers started the second half right where they ended the first. After a stop on one end, Kalscheur drained a trifecta on the other end. Oturu nailed a three of his own the next time down to stretch the lead to 51-32, and force Gard to burn another timeout.
Both teams went back and forth over the next few minutes. Willis continued his hot hand by knocking down his fourth 3-pointer for the game and giving Minnesota its biggest lead to that point of the game at 65-43 with 8:11 remaining.
The Gophers shooting cooled somewhat as well, but they were still shooting 48% which will win most nights. On the other hand, after starting out five for eight, the Badgers were just 14 for 59 for 23.7% the rest of the way.
Wisconsin would chip away at the lead, but the final result was never in jeopardy. Minnesota would score just two points in the next seven minutes and three seconds. The Badgers trimmed it to 67-52 before Willis drained another three at the 1:08 mark, and that is where the score would stand as the Gophers won comfortably 70-52.
Minnesota was just 7 of 28 in the second half for 25%, but 41% for the game was plenty good enough. They made nine 3-pointers and shot 40.9% from deep. They were 11 of 16 from the line. The assist to turnover ratio was 16 to 5.
Payton Willis had a great game back. He made 5 of 7 three's and finished with 21 points. Daniel Oturu had yet another double-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and he also had 4 blocked shots. Marcus Carr came as close as one could come to a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Gabe Kalscheur was the fourth Gopher in double figures with 11.
Wisconsin's offensive stats were putrid. They were 28.4% from the field, and 24.1% from behind the arc.
Nate Reuver led the Badgers with 14, Aleem Ford and Micah Potter both had 11, D'Mitrik Price added 10, Brad Davison 4, and Tyler Wahl 2.
Minnesota now heads into a tough environment at State College on Saturday, when No. 22 Penn State looks to avenge an earlier loss in The Barn.
