MINNNESOTA GOPHERS FALLS TO OHIO STATE

Despite 19 second-half points from Blake Hoffarber, Minnesota fell to Ohio State 64-58 Saturday night at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH.

Hoffarber hit six three-pointers - and scored 16 straight points - in the second stanza to keep the 19th-ranked Gophers within striking distance until the final minute of regulation. Damian Johnson scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds and three blocks in defeat. Colton Iverson finished with eight points and five rebounds on the night.

Evan Turner went 10-of-12 from the free throw line and finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Buckeyes. Four other players scored in double figures for Ohio State, which improves to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten.

Down 10 with under nine minutes remaining in regulation following back-to-back three’s by the Buckeyes, Hoffarber who finished the contest 6-of-10 from behind the arc connected on five three-pointers down the stretch to pull Minnesota to within three, 55-52, with 3:46 left in regulation.

But that would be as close as Tubby Smith’s squad would come as Minnesota, which shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53) for the game, couldn’t convert down the stretch. Still down three with just over a minute left to go, Turner made 7-of-8 free throws in the final moments of regulation to seal things for the Buckeyes, who have now won five consecutive games.

Even in defeat, there were encouraging signs for the Maroon and Gold.

After an embarrassing loss at Michigan State on Wednesday, the Gophers looked like a refocused team from the get go Saturday night.

Despite only shooting 40 percent in the first half, a gritty Minnesota team jumped out to a 13-7 lead. Ohio State gained control of the game midway through the first stanza thanks to a 20-8 run, but the Gophers rallied back at the end of the half and were in the game at halftime, down 29-26 heading into the locker room.

A three-point play by Iverson moments into the second half tied the game at 29-29, but a 17-7 run by the Buckeyes capped by back-to-back three’s by Jeremie Simmons and Jon Diebler put Thad Matta’s squad ahead 46-36 with 8:51 to go.

Hoffarber did his best to lead the Gophers back – scoring 16 points in a five minutes stretch but it wasn’t enough, as Ohio State escaped with a victory to even the season series at 1-1.

Minnesota returns to action on Tuesday night when the Gophers welcome Indiana to Williams Arena.