THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GOPHERS MENS BASKETBALL TEAM TAKES ON PENN STATE IN A SUNDAY AFTERNOON MATCH UP

The University of Minnesota Gophers are taking on the Penn State Nittany Lions in a Sunday afternoon match up at Williams Arena. Coming into this game Penn State has a 13-3 overall record and they are 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota has a 14-1 overall record and they are 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference. For Minnesota Lawrence Westbrook is there leading scorer. He averages 12.8 points per game. For Penn State Taylor Battle is there leading scorer with an 18.9 point per game average. The Gophers come into today’s game ranked number 19th in the nation in USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll.

We are about to get the game underway here at Williams Arena. The crowd has begun to show up today. There is a nice size crowd here again this afternoon. The Minnesota pep band is in the building this afternoon. There is a great atmosphere here today.

The Gophers have won the tap and we are underway. The Gophers are using a lot of patience on the offensive end here as they have wound a lot of time off the clock. The Gophers have really been getting after it here in the early goings today. Lawrence Westbrook has just nailed a three pointer here and that has really got the fans into the game.

With 14:57 left to go in the first half the score is Minnesota 6 and Penn State 5.

So far the Gophers have been able to get in the faces of this Penn State team. They have played good defense so far today. Both of these teams have done a good job of pushing the ball up the court. They both have looked good in transition.

Tubby Smith has done a good job with the substations in the game today. He has used the whole sale substation patterned so far today as he has subbed all 5 guys in at the same time.

There is 11:36 left to go in the first half the score Minnesota 12 and Penn State 10.

The Gophers have had their luck hitting the three point shot so far today. They have been really been able to hit shots here today. They are on a run Devon Bostick has just come down and drained 2 3 point shots here and the crowd has gotten on its feet here at Williams Arena. The Gophers have really played aggressively here today.
Al King Nolan Jr has reentered the game here. He has really given this Gopher team some energy here this afternoon. Travis Busch has also entered the game here today. Travis has been playing well. He is really getting after the rebounds here and is really going after the loose balls.

With 6:34 left to go in the first half the score is Minnesota 27 and Penn State 20.

Penn State is playing a man to man defense. They are trying to get after the Gophers here they have not been able to control the Gophers that well here in the first half. Penn State is playing well in the first half. Penn State’s Taylor Battle is playing well for them. He has been all over the court and he has been able to make his shots.

With 3:51 left to go in the first half the score is Minnesota 31 and Penn State 28.

The Gophers continue to go after the rebounds here today. They are fighting like crazy to go get the rebounds on both ends of the court. Al King Nolen Jr has taken control of this game for the Gophers he is a vocal leader out of the court. He has really gotten this team in to this game. Paul Carter has also played well today. He has just thrown down a monster slam dunk at the buzzer and this crowd has really come alive at the half. The score at half time is Minnesota 40 and Penn State 30.

At half time Penn State is shooting 35.3% from the field and is shooting 35.3% from beyond the three point line. Minnesota is shooting 57.7% from the field and is shooting 100% 7-7 from beyond the three point line.

As the second half Lawrence Westbrook has just came down and got an offensive rebound. He was up in the air and shot the ball underneath the basket and it went in. He has made some nice moves around the basket. The Gophers are really flying around the court as they are getting matched up on their man and really getting after their man. Colton Iverson has just picked up a foul here and Tubby Smith though that one of the Penn State players swung his arms to aggressively and wanted a call. Damian Johnson has just scored a layup jumping over several players including his own teammates. There was a big scrum to get the ball and he came up with it and made a nice shot.

With 15:07 the score is Minnesota 48 and Penn State 41.

Once again the Gopher bench has come alive. The players on the bench have been cheering for their teammates and have been very supportive of the guys on the floor today. Devron Bostick who had 8 points at the half has been playing hard and tough here tonight.

Tubby Smith has been shouting instructions to his players who have really got into this game today. As mentioned before the crowed has been alive here in the game today. The student section is going crazy they have really helped out the team today in a positive matter.

Penn State is still fighting hard here mid way through but they have not been able to contain this Gopher team.

The score with 12:10 left to go is Minnesota 59 and Penn State 44.

The Gophers have decided to trap the ball on the defensive end. They want to do everything that they can to disrupt Penn State.

Tubby Smith has become bewildered by some of the calls here today. The Gophers have really pulled away in this game here mid way through the second half. They have really opened up a big lead here. They continue to play hard here. The Gophers have really picked up the intensity here today.

With 6:48 left to go in regulation the score is Minnesota 68 and Penn State 49.

Al King Nolen JR has reentered the game today. He has played well here today. Today’s game has really been a hard fought game on both ends of the court today. The Gophers have not lost their compositor here today. Jamal Abu Shamala has just hit a huge three point shot.

With 3:30 left to go in regulation the score is Minnesota 75 and Penn State 54.

The Gophers have still been able to run their offense here today. The gophers will come away with the victory here today. They have played hard here and have earned this victory today. The final of the game today was the Minnesota Golden Gophers 79 and the Penn State Nittany Lions 59.

Penn State shot 36.7 percent from the field today and they were 33.3% from 3 point country. They were 75% from the field. Taylor Battle was there leading scorer he had a total of 19 points to lead Penn State tonight.
Minnesota was lead in scoring by Devron Bostick he had 19 points for the Gophers today. He played well today. He really was a vocal leader today. He was 7-8 from the field and was 3-3 from the free throw line. Paul Carter finished with 14 points, Lawrence Westbrook added 13 points tonight. Ralph Sampson added 10 points. All in all tonight’s victory was a team victory every one played well. Tubby Smith said that he really thinks that the Junior College transfers have really done a good job of picking up his system. The Gophers are now 15-1 and 3-1 in the Big Ten.