The Gophers host defending Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin at Williams Arena on Monday night.
Final – GOPHERS 82, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 42.
7:57 2nd – The first team has come back in for the Gophers. Johnson has made a pair of free throws and a layup. He has 6 points, all in the second half. GOPHERS 59, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 32.
10:46 2nd – The Gophers have already scored more points than they did in the entire first half. Since the second team entered at 15:40, Joseph, Hoffarber and Cobbs have each hit a 3-point shot. The Gophers are now 5-of-7 from long range in the second half. GOPHERS 53, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 31.
15:40 2nd – The Gophers have turned six Lumberjacks turnovers into 9 points to start the half. Stephen F. Austin’s first basket came inside of 16 minutes, by which time the Gophers already scored 16 second-half points. GOPHERS 42, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 21.
18:55 2nd – A great to the second half for the Gophers. Johnson deflected a pass on the first Lumberjacks possession and then threw an alley-oop to Williams, the only non-starter to start the second half for the Gophers, for a crowd-rousing dunk. After forcing a long shot to miss on the ensuing defensive possession, the Gophers had Westbrook wide open. After checking for a defender that did not come, he knocked down a three that forced a Lumberjacks timeout. GOPHERS 31, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 19.
Halftime – GOPHERS 26, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 19. Minnesota is on a 10-3 run to close the half. Sampson capped it with a dunk with 0:05.0 to play before the half. Each team has just four free-throw attempts and they have combined for 20 turnovers.
1:40 1st – The Gophers finally break through. After forcing two jump balls on a Lumberjacks possession, Johnson found Williams for an open look from 3-point land. Williams made his first shot to open a 4-point lead. On the next possession, Johnson knocked the ball loose, and Westbrook scooped it up and went for a layup. GOPHERS 22, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 16.
2:59 1st – Neither team has been able to finish its last few possessions. After Minnesota missed its last two layups, Westbrook drove and hit a layup but was called for an offensive foul. GOPHERS 17, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 16.
7:49 1st – Joseph hit a three and added a free-throw to a 2-point shot to give Minnesota a brief 15-14 lead. Glynn later made a layup for the Lumberjacks. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 16, GOPHERS 15.
11:43 1st – The Gophers have turned the ball over each of their last three trips down the court. The second team (Cobbs, Joseph, Hoffarber, Williams, Iverson) has played since the 14:00 mark. The only Minnesota score since then has been a pair of free throws by Cobbs. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 12, GOPHERS 9.
15:38 1st – The Gophers trail for the first time this season. Bell made a steal and was fouled by Nolen on a breakaway. Bell made the free throws to give the Lumberjacks a 6-5 lead. Glynn just made a two-pointer as well. Each team has three turnovers. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 8, GOPHERS 5.
Starting Lineups:
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (in the purple uniforms with pink trim)
F Jr. Jordan Glynn
F Jr. Orren Tims
C So. Jereal Scott
G Jr. Eddie Williams
G Sr. Eric Bell
Minnesota Gophers
F Sr. Damian Johnson
F Jr. Paul Carter
C So. Ralph Sampson III
G Jr. Al Nolen Jr.
G Sr. Lawrence Westbrook
Of the players who cannot play for the Gophers, only junior forward Trevor Mbakwe appears in street clothes.