SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY TOOK ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN A MEN’S BASKETBALL CONTEST

South Dakota State University took on the University of Minnesota in a men’s basketball contest at Williams Arena. South Dakota State University came in with a record of 8-3 overall.  
 

Minnesota came into the game with a record of 10-1. Minnesota was ranked number 16 in the country in Division 1 men’s basketball teams according to the USA Today/ ESPN coach’s poll for the week ending December 20, 2010.

For Minnesota point guard Al King Nolen was back in uniform after a foot injury. Nolen missed a few games with foot problems.

The Gophers won the opening tip. They looked to take their time on the offensive end. Trevor Mbakwe scored the Gophers first basket on a layup on the first play of the game. The Gophers looked to get everyone involved in the offense from the beginning of the game.

South Dakota State looked for Nate Wolters to get them into their offensive flow. Wolters was not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the court.

With 15:56 left to go in the first half the score was Minnesota 8 and South Dakota State 7.

The Gophers continued to push the ball up the court after the media timeout. Al King Nolen Jr. entered the game with 15:12 left to go in the first half.

South Dakota State used a lot of time off the clock when they were on the offensive end. They were able to go on a run after the media timeout. South Dakota State was able to put the clamps on the Gophers offensively for a period of time in the first half.

With 11:09 left to go in the first half at the second media timeout the score was South Dakota 17 and Minnesota 12.

Chip Armelin played aggressively in the first half. He was able to come up with a nice steal and was able to make a slam dunk. That got the crowd into the game.

Devoe Joseph came on fire midway through the first half. He was able to drain a few three-point shots.

With 7:59 left to go in the first half the score was Minnesota 22 and South Dakota State University 21.

The score went back and forth throughout the later part of the half. Neither team was able to go on a run.

The Gophers played well throughout the first half. I thought that they took the ball hard to the basket. South Dakota State University didn’t back down to the Gophers.

With 3:48 left to go in the first half at the final media timeout the score was Minnesota 29 and South Dakota State University 25.

The Gophers played well late in the half. At halftime the score was Minnesota 34 and South Dakota State 29.

The Gophers got the ball to start the second half. Joseph launched a three point shot and made it to start off the half.

Sampson found his three-point shot in the second half. He was not to keep shooting the ball.

South Dakota State made a comeback in the second half. They were able to make a run at the Gophers.

With 15:38 the score was Minnesota 46 and South Dakota State 43.

With 14:19 left to go in the second half Walker banged his knee and was helped off the floor by teammates and team medical staff.

The Gophers continued to run their plays in the second half. They played very aggressively on both ends of the court.

With 10:44 to go in regulation the score was Minnesota 55 and South Dakota State University 49.

South Dakota State continued to get the ball into Wolters hands. He went hard to the basket and tried to draw fouls.

Mbakwe picked up his fourth foul with 8:33 left to go in regulation.

With 7:51 left to go in regulation the score was Minnesota 61 and South Dakota State University 60.

The Gophers continued to play hard in the half. They were on some wrong ends of a few questionable calls. They used that to their advantage though as they kept on pounding the ball to the rack.

With 5:25 left to go in regulation the score was Minnesota 68 and South Dakota State University 64.

The Gophers went on a run after that timeout. With 3:04 left to go in regulation South Dakota State called a timeout to settle down there troops.

South Dakota State University applied full court pressure as they looked to get rattle the Gophers.

With 2:42 left to go in regulation the score was Minnesota 73 and South Dakota State University 66.

I thought Williams of the University of Minnesota played well. He was able to come up big and knock down some shots at key points in the game.

The Gophers were able to come away with the 85-73 victory over South Dakota State University.

The leading scorers for South Dakota State University were Clint Sargent with 23, Nate Wolters with 16 and Jordan Dykstra finished with 12 points.

The Gophers were led in scoring by Colton Iverson and Blake Hoffarber each with 15 points. Rodney Williams had 13 for the Gophers.

After the game Minnesota’s Tubby Smith addressed the media and talked about the 85-73 victory over South Dakota State. Also Devoe Joseph and Al King Nolen Jr. addressed the media to talk about the victory.