Gophers coach Niko Medved slammed his clipboard onto the Williams Arena floor during a timeout huddle early in Friday’s second half against Southern Cal.
Minnesota’s lackadaisical play allowed the Trojans to go on a 6-0 spurt and extend its lead 41-30. After only 54 seconds was played, Medved had seen enough.
The Gophers chipped away at the deficit and forced overtime but fell 70-69 to USC at The Barn.
In the extra session, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson made a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to give Minnesota a 69-68 lead. On the next possession, Chad Baker-Mazara got a foul call when falling to the court and made both free throws to retake the lead at 70-69.
The home fans booed that decisive call, and many others, down the final stretch.
On the last play, Cade Tyson had the ball poked away. He had the ball poked away, recovered it and a late heave was off the mark.
Minnesota (10-6, 3-2 Big Ten) fell to 9-1 at home this season and snapped a five-game winning streak.
In regulation, Minnesota took the lead at 63-62 with Cade Tyson’s two free throws with 45 seconds remaining. But Gabe Dynes made made one free throw to tie it again at 63-63 with 28 seconds left.
Cade Tyson’s game-winning shot attempt was short with five seconds left and USC’s Ezra Ausar’s last-second attempt was off the mark.
Minnesota forced 16 turnovers, but had only six points off them.
Baker-Mazara, who was averaging 19.3 points per gam, scored 29 points on Friday, but was held scoreless over the last eight minutes and until those final free throws.
Langston Reynolds and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson each picked up two fouls and sat for the the final eight minutes of the first half. Minnesota was up 22-21 when both went to the bench and USC outscored Minnesota 14-8 to take a 35-30 lead at the break.
USC’s 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes had eight first half points on 4-of-4 shooting and even with Crocker-Johnson in foul trouble, Medved didn’t turn to backup center Nemo Turner.
Related Articles
Men’s basketball: As roster dwindled, Gophers connected
Gophers hold off late rally and upset No. 19 Iowa
When Gophers men’s basketball wins a road game, it’s snack time
Men’s basketball: Gophers second-half surge leads to 84-78 win at Northwestern
Huge challenge for short-handed Gophers men’s basketball: 18 straight Big Ten games
Leave a Reply