GOPHERS FALL TO #5 OHIO STATE IN TITLE GAME

Minnesota had its four-game winning streak snapped in the title game of the 2010 Big Ten Tournament, as top-seeded and fifth-ranked Ohio State used an impressive second half run to break open a close game and clinch the title with a 90-61 victory at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The sixth-seeded Gophers (21-13) had recorded wins over Penn State (76-55), 11th-ranked Michigan State (72-67 in OT), and sixth-ranked Purdue (69-42) on consecutive days to advance to their first championship game. But Ohio State (27-7) went on an amazing run midway through the second half, and earned the Big Ten's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

With 13:41 remaining in the game, the Buckeyes held a slim 42-40 lead after the Golden Gophers had rallied from an 11-point deficit just a few minutes earlier. But, like it did when it went on a 20-0 second-half run in its 88-81 overtime win against Illinois on Saturday, Ohio State outscored the Gophers 37-15 over the next 11 minutes for a 79-55 lead with 2:41 left. During the run, the Buckeyes made 12 straight field goals between a three-pointer by Evan Turner at 11:38 and a missed three by Jon Diebler at 3:16.

Minnesota was led by 17 points from senior guard Lawrence Westbrook, while sophomore guard Devoe Joseph was the only other Gophers player to reach double figures, finishing with 14 points. Senior forward Damian Johnson added seven points, four rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots, while sophomore forward Ralph Sampson III and sophomore center Colton Iverson each finished with six points and two rebounds.

The Gophers trailed by only three points, 33-30, at halftime and shot the ball pretty well in the game by making 22-of-52 (.423) field goals, including 7-of-16 (.438) treys. But 14 Minnesota turnovers led to 21 fastbreak points for the Buckeyes, who had four players reach double figures.

Turner, the Big Ten's Player of the Year and unanimous choice for the tournament's most outstanding player, paced Ohio State with game-high totals of 31 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. It was Turner's 16th double-double of the season. David Lighty added 20 points, seven boards, and five assists, and Diebler made five three-pointers to finish with 19 points. The Buckeyes made 34-of-59 (.576) field goals, including 12-of-22 (.545) three-pointers, while holding a 37-23 edge on the boards.

Joseph joined Illinois' Demetri McCamey, as well as the Buckeyes' Turner, Lighty, and William Buford, on the all-tournament team. Over the four tournament games, Joseph averaged 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals, while making 17-of-41 (415) field goals, including 10-of-18 (.556) treys, and 12-of-12 free throws. Joseph is just the third Minnesota player to make the all-tourney team, and the first since Vincent Grier did so following the Gophers' run to the semifinals during 2005.

Despite the loss, Minnesota learned Sunday evening that it had earned its second-straight at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament field. The Gophers will be a #11 seed and face sixth-seeded Xavier (24-8) in the opening round on Friday at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis. The Gophers and 24th-ranked Musketeers have played three times, but have not met on the court since the Gophers recorded an 83-76 win on Dec. 27, 1956. Minnesota has won all three games in the series.