Final: #Gophers get the win at Williams! #RaiseTheBarn pic.twitter.com/HBYMLxAWJH
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) February 7, 2015
The Gopher men’s basketball team won its second game in a row by defeating Purdue 62-58 Saturday afternoon at Williams Arena. But they didn’t make it easy.
Minnesota led by double digits with less than six minutes to go in the game when Purdue went on a tear and drew to within just two points with one minute left.
But unlike previous games this season when the Gophers couldn’t hang on at the end, Mo Walker blocked a drive to the hoop by Purdue’s Vince Edwards, Andre Hollins was fouled when he grabbed the rebound and made two free throws to seal the win, the Associated Press reports.
Hollins led the Gophers with 18 points in a streaky game for both teams.
Minnesota led by eight points midway through the first half but then went cold. They scored just one field goal in the last nine minutes of the half and let Purdue back in the game. The Gophers trailed 31-27 at the break, and head coach Richard Pitino was so frustrated that he threw his coat and tie onto the floor, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
But they came out blazing with a 21-2 scoring run to start the second half, featuring four steals in the first 2:11, according to the Associated Press.
Richard Pitino said the crowd was as good as he has seen it to start the 2nd half: "the roof was about to blow off." pic.twitter.com/hxxaKCUkQj
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) February 7, 2015
Purdue missed 12 of its first 13 shots in the second half, and trailed 48-33 midway through the period before staging a furious comeback. They hit seven 3-pointers to cut the deficit to two points, 60-58 with 1:01 to play, according to the Star Tribune. But they couldn’t get any closer and Minnesota hung on for the win.
Joey King scored 11 for the Golden Gophers (15-9, 4-7 Big Ten), while Purdue was led by Jon Octeus with 17 points and seven rebounds.
The Boilermakers (15-9, 7-4) had won four in a row coming in to Saturday’s game.
Minnesota’s next game is against the Hawkeyes at Iowa on Thursday.
