THE GOPHERS OVER COME A PESKY ST CLOUD STATE HUSKY TEAM

The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers started off the exhibition portion of their schedule against St Cloud State University. There has been much talk about this upcoming season with the new players and what Head Coach Tubby Smith can do with his squad. The arena is almost half full as we begin this game. Last season the Gophers were 20-14 and 8-10 in the Big Ten. St Cloud State University was 17-11 and 5-7 in the NCC.

As this game gets set to get underway here at storied Williams Arena, the crowed is quite intense and the Gophers are pushing the ball to start game. St Cloud is also playing a fast tempo.

Tubby Smith has done a lot of subbing early in this game trying to keep fresh legs in the game. Taylor Witt has been on fire here for the Huskies and has scored the Huskies first seven points. At the first media time out the score is Minnesota 8 and St Cloud State 7 with 15:57 left to go in the first half.

A lot of different players are getting early looks as Coach Smith has been pulling the trigger quickly. Devoe Joseph has come down and hit a three to get the Gophers in this game. They are trying to use their energy to get something going, but the Huskies are doing their best to stop it.

Theo Rothstein has entered in the game for St Cloud and showed a lot of energy. The Huskies are playing a strong man to man defense here in the first-half. They are switching a lot of screens. They are also helping off the ball.

Devron Bostick is really playing up-tempo. He has been all over and is playing well. With 11:47 left to go in the first half the score is Minnesota 18 and St Cloud State 15.

This game has been going back and forth and St Cloud State is playing really solid. They are a scrappy team that has given the Gophers a lot of trouble.

With 7:31 left the score is Minnesota 27 and the Huskies 24. The Gophers and St. Cloud are shooting 47.4% and 44.4% respectively from the field.

The Gophers are being patient on offense. Ralph Sampson III is playing tough and aggressive defense and he is also doing a nice job boxing out on the offensive end.

The Huskies are attacking on the offensive and they are getting up into the Gophers faces. They are not letting down or backing off. Both teams are going after each other strong the final minutes of the first half.

Lawrence Westbrook has gotten on the floor and really gone after loose balls and he has also hit some nice shots.

In a game that has been up tempo the Gophers and the Huskies are tied at the half 49-49.

At half time St Cloud State is shooting 50% from the field (16-32) and are shooting 40% from behind the three point line (6-15) and 73.3% (11-15) from the free throw line.

The Gophers are shooting (16-29) 55.2 % from the field and (4-6) 66.7 % from the three point range and 56.5% (13-23) from the free throw line. The leading scorer for Minnesota is Al Nolan Jr. with 12 points and for St Cloud State their leading scorer is Andrew Bernstetter with 15.

Both teams are coming out ready to play here in the second half. To start the half, Nolan is looking very sharp and has been able to push the ball and has made some very nice passes.

With 15:43 left to go in regulation the score is Minnesota 55 and St Cloud State 52.

Both teams are applying more pressure coming out of the media time out. Minnesota is playing man to man defense and they are really getting up and jamming the cutters. Travis Busch has also made some nice plays. He has been able to finish inside and he is really getting after it.

With 11:48 left to go in regulation, the score is Minnesota 61 and St Cloud State 57.

Minnesota has gone on a little run forcing St Cloud State to burn a time out. With 10:48 left to go, the score is now Minnesota 68 and St Cloud 59.

Blake Hoffarber has hit some amazing shots. They are not tricky shots they are just shots that when it leaves his hand you have to say is it going in or isn’t it. He has a nice ark on his shot and he likes to shoot the mid range jumper.

With 7:59 left to go in regulation the score is Minnesota 77 and St Cloud State 61.

Jonathan Williams has been playing well late in the second half. He did play in the first half but has really blossomed here in the second half. He has become something to contend with in the minutes that he has played.

Something upset Tubby Smith on the Gophers last position and he called a thirty second time out to get his troops under control. The Gophers are going to have to grind this one out.

With 3:57 left to go the score is Minnesota 79 and St Cloud State 67.

Down the stretch the Golden Gophers have been able to fend off the Huskies and have come away with an 88-80 victory. Scoring in double figures for the Gophers tonight were Al Nolen with 18 points, Lawrence Westbrook with 15, Travis Busch 13 and Blake Hoffarber 11.

For St Cloud State, their leading scorers were Andrew Bernestetter with 15 points, Brett Carmicheal with 14, Taylor Witt 10, and Matt Schneck 8.