Minnesota Topples Bears, 91-53

Saturday, December 5

2:30 pm

Brown University

Minnesota

12/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Minneapolis, Minnesota –Minnesota had six players score in double figures, utilizing a decided inside advantage and strong outside shooting, to build a 51-20 halftime lead and coast to a 91-53 victory over Brown before a crowd of 12,420 at Williams Arena. The loss drops the Bears to 4-6 overall, while the Golden Gophers advance to 5-3 overall.

Coach Tubby Smith's Golden Gophers play in the Williams Arena, affectionately known as “The Barn,” with the playing surface three feet above the team benches. Minnesota played most of the game above the rim, forcing the Bears into tough, contested shots.

“I'm a huge Tubby Smith fan,” said Brown head coach Jesse Agel. “He is one of the premier coaches in the profession. We really had trouble with Minnesota's team defense and athleticism.”

The cold shooting Bears grabbed their only lead, 3-2, on a three-point basket by junior Adrian Williams. The Bears did not hit another shot for the next nine minutes as the Golden Gophers scored the next 14 points to grab a 16-3 advantage.

Minnesota's tenacious defense held the Bears to just five first half field goals as the Golden Gophers built a 51-20 lead at the half, holding the Bears to 5 of 24 shooting from the field. The Golden Gophers shot a torrid 64 percent from the field in the first half with 21 of 33 shooting.

Senior Steve Gruber and freshman Andre McCarthy lead the Bears with 10 points each, with McCarthy also pulling down five rebounds. Bears' freshman Tucker Halpern came in with nine points for the Bears, while Matt Mullery added seven points and five rebounds.

Blake Hoffarber registered a double-double for the Golden Gophers, scoring a game high 13 points while pulling down 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Golden Gophers were Lawrence Westbrook and Damian Johnson with 12 points each. Ralph Sampson III, the son of former Virginia and NBA star Ralph Sampson, and Joseph Devoe netted 11 points apiece, while Al Nolen came in with 10 points.

The Bears will travel down College Hill to downtown Providence to face cross-town rival Providence College on Monday, December 7, starting at 7:00 pm at the Dunkin Donuts Center.