Gopher Sports Editor

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — One night following an uninsprired loss to rival
North Dakota Minnesota wasted little time in setting the tone as the
Gophers rolled to a 6-2 win over UND on Saturday at Englestad Arena...
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By Ray Maloney

Gopher Sports Editor

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Finally Minnesota coach Tubby Smith got the play he has been looking for from his Gophers.

Minnesota, which opened the season winning 12 of its first 13 games, was looking for its first Big Ten win of the season when the Gophers ventured into Indiana’s Assembly Hall. They existed with a 77-74 win over the No. 8-ranked Hoosiers on Thursday.

Minnesota is now 1-4 in conference play and 13-5 on the year after the shocker over Indiana, which has wins over No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Ohio State already to its credit. The Hoosiers dropped to 3-2 in the league and are now 15-2 on the season. It was the first win for Minnesota over a Top 10 team since defeating Purdue 70-67 at Williams Arena nearly a year ago.

“We were focused (Thursday),” said Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, who had never began a conference season with more than three straight losses during his brilliant coaching career, ” … we persevered.”

Minnesota, which led by three points at the intermission, was able to extend its lead to as much as 11 points in the second half. A field goal by junior forward Rodney Williams put Minnesota in front 51-40 with 12:33 to play in the game. A pair of baskets by Indiana’s Cody Zeller just over two minutes later allowed the Hoosiers to close the gap to within 53-47 and set the stage for a dramatic finish.

Minnesota, which showed patience throughout much of the first half and early in the second half, began to rush its offense. It nearly cost the Gophers the lead as they put up some shots instead of working on the clock and limiting Indiana’s chances at getting back in the game.

But it was Williams once again. He took a pass...
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