The Minnesota Gophers opened their season with a weekend sweep of Division II Concordia (St. Paul), Bowling Green, and Georgia State, winning the NABC Classic. Lawrence Westbrook was named the tournament MVP, averaging 16 points per game. His 20 point performance on Saturday helped propel the Gophers to a 68-61 victory over Bowling Green.
Minnesota Gophers freshman Colton Iverson also had a big game against Bowling Green, recording 9 blocks and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes of play.
Sunday the Gophers topped Georgia State 60-52, behind the steady play of PG Al Nolen. Nolen played all but four minutes of the game contributing 6 points, 6 assists, 5 steals and perhaps most importantly, zero turnovers.
On a sour note, the Gophers had trouble maintaining the sizable leads they had built both Saturday and Sunday. Minnesota mounted first half leads of 20 points against Bowling Green and 17 over Georgia State, only to see them diminish in the 2nd half, a trend that Tubby Smith will surely address before the Gophers next game, November 22nd at Colorado State.
Minnesota Gophers Basketball Writer: Mike Rietmulder