The one caveat to the first half of the Gophers men’s basketball team’s Big Ten schedule was its overall difficulty. While Minnesota struggled, its early schedule was considered among the three toughest in the conference by analytics site KenPom.
That run of big-time opponents ended last Saturday with a 71-68 loss to last-place Washington, and the Gophers got another shot with a lower-level opponent on Tuesday at Penn State.
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The Gophers trailed at the break, but surged in the second half to win 69-61 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Minnesota (12-11, 4-8), a seven-point underdog, gained separation on Penn State (13-9, 3-9) in the conference standings, an important move because the conference’s bottom three teams won’t be invited to the season-ending conference tournament in Indianapolis.
The Gophers made nine of their final 10 shots to finish the half at 70% from the field, 57% from 3-point range and 80% from the free-throw line to outscore Penn State by 12 after intermission.
Backup guard Brennan Rigsby hadn’t scored in six straight games dating back to Jan. 10 but poured in 14 points in a perfect 5 for 5 from the field, including two 3-pointers. He made two big free throws late to help seal the win.
The Nittany Lions were without 7-footer Yanic Niederhauser, their leading rebounder, top rim protector and one of their leading scorers.
Minnesota big man Dawson Garcia took advantage as the game progressed. He finished with 19 points and a season-high 14 rebounds.
Rigsby stepped up after Femi Odukale fouled out with 12:32 left in the game. Odukale was whistled for his fourth foul, complained to the official and was hit with a technical foul, his fifth, and had to sit after playing only 16 total minutes.
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The first half seemed emblematic for a pair of teams with a dismal combined conference record of 6-18: Penn State made 10 turnovers in the first half, and Minnesota’s had eight.
The Gophers forced four turnovers in the opening four minutes but only led 4-0. Their failure to capitalize on the slow start gave the the Nittany Lions a chance to retake the lead with a 7-0 run through eight minutes.
Minnesota was able to close the half on a 6-0 run, including a huge dunk from Rigsby to cut the deficit to 25-21 at the half.
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