The Cats wouldn't allow a comeback, with Barnhizer's three sparking an 18-5 run to end the game. Pharrel Payne's block helped the Gophers force 10 straight missed shots by the Cats, who were scoreless from the field for nearly six minutes.īraeden Carrington, who returned from a concussion after missing two games, drilled a shot from beyond the arc for a 72-61 deficit with 6:52 to play. On Saturday, Garcia converted a three-point play to make it 71-58 midway through the second half. The U's defense has been especially struggling in the last three losses against Illinois (shooting 61%), Indiana (55%) and Northwestern (59%). 6, the Gophers have allowed their opponents to shoot 51.4% from the field combined in their six losses. Since a 59-56 victory against Michigan State at home on Feb. The Cats were held to 38% shooting that night and committed 17 turnovers. It just comes down to really locking in on every practice and staying the course throughout games."ĭefense helped the Gophers win three straight games in the middle of the Big Ten season, including 75-66 vs. "It just came down to defense," Garcia said. Garcia had 12 points in the game following a three-pointer to pull within 17-15 with 12 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first half, but Northwestern never looked back after a 27-14 run.īrooks Barnhizer, Ryan Langborg and Boo Buie combined for six of the seven threes in the first half for the Wildcats, who took a 53-41 halftime lead after shooting 70% from the field. The Wildcats (21-10, 12-8) are on track to reach back-to-back NCAA tournaments for the first time ever playing without senior starters Ty Berry (knee) and Matt Nicholson (foot). They went from a possible double-bye in next week's Big Ten tournament in Minneapolis earlier this month to limping into the ninth or 10th seed. The Gophers (18-13, 9-11 Big Ten) have now suffered losses in six of the last nine games, including five consecutive road losses. "We've got to really self-reflect and figure out what we have to do better, especially when it's in the second half and winning time." "We have to take a long look at what we're doing," Johnson said. Look no further than the direction the Gophers are going after Saturday's 90-66 loss to end the regular season against Northwestern in front of an announced sellout crowd at Welsh-Ryan Arena.ĭawson Garcia finished with his third 30-point game of the season to lead the Gophers, but the momentum was entirely in Northwestern's favor from the opening tip. The signature victories were lacking, but the Gophers passed the eye test. – There was a point this season when Ben Johnson thought his Gophers men's basketball team definitely belonged in the NCAA tournament conversation.
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