Final – Westbrook had his seventh career 20-point game, Johnson had his fourth career double-double (including a career-high 11 assists), and Bostick tied his Big Ten season-high with eight points in a home rout of the Hawkeyes. GOPHERS 88, IOWA 53.
3:50 2nd – Although he was blocked on a recent dunk attempt, Johnson still has his career double-double. He has scored 10 points. Sampson finally got on the scoreboard with a dunk off of Johnson’s 10th assist. GOPHERS 78, IOWA 46.
7:53 2nd – Payne returned to the game less than three minutes after he left. He has six assists and six turnovers, both the high marks for the Hawkeyes this evening. Freshman forward Rodney Williams just beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer a moment ago, so Sampson and Allen are the only Minnesota players that haven’t yet scored. GOPHERS 65, IOWA 38.
11:30 2nd – Iowa guard Cully Payne, who leads the Hawkeyes with 3.8 assists per game, left the game within the last two minutes with what appeared to be a left-knee injury. He layed on the ground following his shot being blocked by Johnson. The Gophers’ lead should allow them to schedule the script the later exits of the seniors in the closing minutes. GOPHERS 58, IOWA 35.
15:44 2nd – Joseph and Westbrook have reached double digits with 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Gophers, who are shooting 59 percent from the field. Johnson has tied his career high with six assists. GOPHERS 51, IOWA 30.
Halftime – Bostick made his first shot attempt on a 3-pointer in front of the Iowa bench in the final minute. Gatens made a jumper at the halftime buzzer to slightly close the wide lead, which has been as large as 25 points. GOPHERS 42, IOWA 20.
2:26 1st – The Gophers’ bench — with the exception of Joseph returning to the game for Cobbs — assembled a 17-0 run that ended moments ago. The four remaining starters and freshman Bryant Allen will enter the game after the timeout. GOPHERS 37, IOWA 10.
7:46 1st – The Gophers have their biggest lead of the game and now know their road in the Big Ten tournament. GOPHERS 24, IOWA 10.
Big Ten tournament schedule: Opening round games, Thursday, March 11: (6) Minnesota v. (11) Penn State (7) Northwestern v. (10) Indiana (8) Michigan v. (9) Iowa Quarterfinal games, Friday, March 12: Minnesota/Penn State winner v. (3) Michigan State Northwestern/Indiana winner v. (2) Purdue Michigan/Iowa winner v. (1) Ohio State (4) Wisconsin v. (5) Illinois
11:57 1st – All five starters just left the game for the Gophers. Joseph has seven points to lead all scorers. Johnson left with four points and four assists. GOPHERS 16, IOWA 8.
15:32 1st – Joseph has hit a pair of jumpers, and Johnson and Westbrook each have baskets in their final home game. Johnson has two of three Minnesota assists. GOPHERS 9, IOWA 4.
The Gophers honored their three senior captains and three senior managers with a pregame on-court ceremony. All three seniors will be in the starting lineup for Minnesota. Senior guard Devron Bostick will make his first career start.
Minnesota hardly got a shootaround before the buzzer for the national anthem. Juniors Al Nolen and Trevor Mbakwe are not on the Minnesota bench.
With Michigan trailing by a wide margin to Michigan State in closing minutes of its game this afternoon, the Gophers will likely wrap up the sixth seed in the Big Ten tournament before end of their game today.
Lineups:
Iowa Hawkeyes (10-20, 4-13 Big Ten)
F Jr. Jarryd Cole
F So. Aaron Fuller
G Fr. Eric May
G Fr. Cully Payne
G So. Matt Gatens
Minnesota Gophers (17-12, 8-9)
F Sr. Damian Johnson
G Sr. Devron Bostick
C So. Ralph Sampson III
G So. Devoe Joseph
G Sr. Lawrence Westbrook