UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GOPHERS MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM TOOK ON STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team took on Stephen F Austin in their second game of the season.

The Gophers won the tip and Ralph Sampson III made the first basket of the game. The Gophers came out with a lot of energy. They wanted to attack the basket from the start of the game.

Stephen F Austin came out and really took it to the Gophers in the first half. They were playing very aggressively from the beginning. Coming into the game the Gophers knew that they would have their hands full in this Stephen F Austin team. This team is a good quality team and an early test for this Gopher team.

Stephen F Austin was able to run some nice plays on back door cuts. They knew how to attack the basket and they didn’t play into Minnesota’s hands early on.

The Gophers played tough aggressive man to man defense throughout the first half. They wanted to try to use both and man to man full court press and they also wanted to try to trap the ball in the back court.

The Gophers continued to go after loose balls in the first half. They were diving after loose balls. They were also making some costly errors in the first half. They were not getting to the rebounds and Stephen Austin players were getting some of the rebounds under the Gophers basket.

Stephen F Austin’s defensive pressure was getting to the Gophers. Stephen F Austin is a team known for its defense.

The Gophers went on a run late in the first half. Neither team was able to put up shots in the first half. It was a defensive battle for both teams.

I thought Ralph Sampson came really ready to play. He made some very nice moves in the first half. He had a nice drop step jump shot on the low block and he was able to make a few of those shots. He also had some nice slam dunks throughout the game. On the defensive end he really played up in his opponents face. He guarded really well.

At half time Minnesota lead the game by the score of 26-19.

As the second half got underway Rodney Williams scored the first two points with a monstrous slam dunk. On the next play Lawrence Westbrook nailed a deep three pointer. That caused Stephen F Austin’s coach to call a time out with 18:55 left in the second half with the score Minnesota 31 and Stephen F Austin 19.

After that time out the Gophers caught fire. They were able to go on a run and rattle off a bunch of points in a row. Damian Johnson made a nice turnaround jumper in the beginning of the second half. Then right after that the Gophers continued to go on a run. With 15:42 left in the second half the score was Minnesota 42 and Stephen F Austin 21.

Blake Hoffarber came in the game and he nailed a few three pointers to give the Gophers energy in the second half.

At the 10:46 media time out the score was Minnesota 53 and Stephen F Austin 31.

The Gophers continued to show patience on the defensive end. The defensive pressure seemed to bother Stephen F Austin in the second half when they had trouble making shots.

Rodney Williams came through and made some nice plays in the second half. He had a few nice easy two hand slam dunks.

The Gophers were able to come away with the 82-42 victory over Stephen F Austin. Here is what Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith had to say about the victory. Here is what Minnesota’s Lawrence Westbrook and Devoe Joseph had to say about the victory.