Watching the Gophers over the past couple weeks, there’s no questioning the effort being put forth, even as the losses and injuries mount.
But the results remain the same.
Minnesota fell for the ninth time in 10 games Tuesday, again running out of steam in a 91-85 defeat at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-8, 9-4), winners of four in a row.
The Gophers erased a 15-point first-half deficit to tie the game at 62-all midway through the second half, but a prompt 8-0 run by the Huskers put to bed any hopes of a morale-building come-from-behind win on a night when Williams Arena celebrated its 90th birthday.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, and I don’t think we did,” said sophomore Michael Hurt, who made his eighth start. “I think we battled to the end, but I think we’ve just got to find a way to break through, even if we’re shorthanded.”
With Amir Coffey (shoulder) already missing his third straight game, Dupree McBrayer (stress reaction) was pulled from the game at halftime and did not appear in the second half. He was seen with a noticeable limp after the game.
Tack on the suspended Reggie Lynch, and the Gophers were missing three starters, but they still gave the Cornhuskers all they could handle. With the score 87-83, Isaiah Washington had a 3-point attempt to cut the deficit to one with under 30 seconds remaining, but it clanked off the iron.
Nate Mason poured in a career-high 34 with a career-best seven made 3s, and Jordan Murphy added his 21st double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds, but even with two brilliant performances from the only healthy starters, Minnesota couldn’t stop Nebraska on the defensive end.
The Huskers shot 50.8 percent — their third game out of six shooting 50 percent or better — and connected on 11 of 23 3-pointers.
They shot 59.3 percent in the first half, led 37-22 at one point and took a 44-37 advantage to the locker room after a 15-7 run by the Gophers to close the first half.
Sophomore Isaiah Roby was key in the Huskers’ victory, scoring a career-high 21 points that featured a dunk with 2:13 to go and a putback with 1:35 to go to deter Minnesota’s late run.
But the game’s biggest momentum swing was Nebraska’s 8-0 spurt following the 62-62 tie. Isaac Copeland hit a go-ahead jump shot, then on Nebraska’s next possession Richard Pitino threw his jacket on the sideline in response to a foul call on Mason and received a technical foul for arguing with the official.
Buckets by Roby and Taylor followed to make it 70-62.
Pitino would not address the officiating but was asked whether he regretted earning the technical foul.
“I thought we had a shot to cut it to one, and I thought we had some good looks,” he said, referencing the Gophers’ late run. “I think I’m a pretty reserved coach on the sideline, to be honest.”
The Gophers (14-12, 3-10) have now lost six straight overall and four consecutive at home.
And the attrition only gets worse for Minnesota with the possible loss of McBrayer.
“How many teams,” asked Pitino, “could sustain these injuries and battle like we’re doing?”
Stats to Think About
- Nebraska entered with the worst rebounding margin in the Big Ten, yet they outboarded Minnesota 38-32.
- Cornhuskers offensive aficionado James Palmer Jr. turned into a distributor with a career-high seven assists in the first-half alone. He finished the game with nine.
- Washington played over 30 minutes for the second straight game and tied a season-high with eight assists. Jamir Harris played his third-most minutes of the year with 22. Said Pitino of the Gophers’ freshmen: “It’s good for them. This will be beneficial for them down the road.”
Up Next
Minnesota visits Indiana on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. tip. The Hoosiers beat the Gophers 75-71 on Jan. 6 to start the Gophers’ swoon.
