It looked like the Gophers were on a collision course with an 0-5 Big Ten record, but they shocked the world by going into Assembly Hall and upsetting No. 7 Indiana, 77-74 Thursday night.
Minnesota improved to 13-5 overall, 1-4 in the Big Ten.
Austin Hollins led the Gophers with 18 points on 7-10 shooting. Rodney Williams finished with 12 points and Julian Welch added 10.
The Gophers took a 37-34 lead into halftime before blossoming the lead to 11 points by starting the second half on a 14-6 run. Minnesota led by at least five points until Victor Oladipo pulled the Hoosiers within three with a layup and free-throw with 40 seconds left in the game.
Indiana immediately fouled freshman Joe Coleman, who hit a pair of free throws to give the visitors a 73-68 lead. The Hoosiers bounced right back with a clutch three-pointer from Matt Roth, cutting the deficit to 73-71.
Coleman was again fouled with 28.6 seconds remaining. The 2010-’11 Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner hit both freebies for a 75-71 Minnesota lead.
The drama wasn’t about to end.
Super freshman Cody Zeller leaned in towards the basket and hit a big and-one layup for Indiana. He would hit the free-throw, trimming the lead to 75-74.
Austin Hollins was then fouled and hit both free-throws, pushing the lead back to three, 77-74. Indiana would miss its next three-pointer, but Julian Welch missed both of his attempts from the line, and the Hoosiers had one final shot with 1.7 seconds on the clock.
Indiana’s full-court pass from the baseline was intercepted and the Gophers pulled the upset, 77-74.
