Jan. 17, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Dusty Rychart scored 23 points and J.B. Bickerstaff added 12 points and nine rebounds as Minnesota held off Purdue 70-67 Wednesday night.
Minnesota (14-3, 2-2 Big Ten) held Purdue without a basket for more than four minutes late in the game to thwart the Boilermakers' second-half comeback attempt.
Purdue (11-5, 3-2) fought back from a 17-point first-half deficit to pull within three at 56-53 with five minutes remaining on a 3-point play and a pair of free throws by Joe Marshall.
But the Gophers then scored 10 of the next 12 points for a 66-55 lead before Marshall hit a 3-point shot with just over two minutes remaining.
After baskets by John Allison and Marshall, Kenneth Lowe hit a jumper with 20 seconds left to make it 66-64. But Rychart then sank two free throws for a 68-64 cushion.
Rodney Smith drilled a 3-point shot with 11 seconds left to cut the lead to 68-67, but Kevin Burleson hit two free throws one second later to push the Gophers' lead back to three points.
Marshall's 3-point attempt at the end of the game bounced off the rim and Terrance Simmons grabbed the rebound to preserve the victory for Minnesota.
After a scoreless first half, Marshall scored 10 points in the final seven minutes to lead all Purdue scorers with 13 points.
Simmons and Michael Bauer were also in double figures for the Gophers, who are 10-0 at Williams Arena this season.
Purdue, second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, shot a measly 19 percent in the first half and Minnesota made four of eight 3-point shots in building a 35-18 halftime lead.
The Gophers scored the last nine points of the first half and held Purdue scoreless for the last four in building its largest lead of the game.