It is a team that will be remembered for being ravaged by injury, with those still left standing forced to play an ungodly amount of minutes.
But this Gophers men’s basketball team also has exhibited a flair for the dramatic.
Having already knocked off the likes of Indiana, Iowa and Michigan State — all NCAA Tournament teams — the Gophers (20-9 overall, 12-6 Big Ten) did it again on Saturday, beating UCLA 78-73 before a spirited and appreciative crowd of 9,811 at Williams Arena.
“I told our team this after practice yesterday,” Gophers head coach Niko Medved said. “Tomorrow it’s March, and as a player, as a coach, it’s the best time of year. We’ve all been in seasons where teams have already checked out at this point.
“This team has done the opposite. As a coach I’m so grateful to be with a group of guys who love that you love going to practice with. They love being around each other.
“They have a great spirit about them and you’re playing meaningful games. I told them the team, really appreciate it. Be where your feet are. Enjoy what you’re doing, enjoy each other.
“I’ll go to war with this group any day, because they exemplify everything I believe in in coaching.”
Bobby Durkin led the Gophers with 23 points, including seven 3s. Langston Reynolds and Cade Tyson each scored 21. UCLA was led by center Tyler Bilodeau with 32 points.
The Bruins (19-10, 11-7), playing at Williams Arena for the first time since 1969, came into the game having won their last two — including an overtime win against Illinois — and four of their last six.
They had their hands full all afternoon with a group that is small in number but big in effort and heart.
“We’ve just got a really connected group,” Medved said. “They’re moving the ball, they’re patient when they need to. Twenty-four assists to three turnovers is just phenomenal. Obviously, it helps when shots go in.”
As for where the Gophers are getting the energy to not only compete, but to win, Reynolds said it comes down to playing for each other.
“We’ve got guys down, but they’re there cheering for us. They’re there every day at practice. We know how much they want to be out there, so it just motivates us to want to do more.”
The Gophers were clicking offensively from the start of the game as they took an early lead. Back-to-back 3s by Durkin gave the Gophers a 24-15 lead.
UCLA responded with a pair of 3s to cut into the Gophers’ lead. The Gophers held a 27-24 lead midway through the first half before the Bruins went on a run.
They tied the game on a 3 from Jamar Brown. Bilodeau scored the next five points to give UCLA a 32-27 lead. The Bruins stretched their lead to 36-29, leading to Medved calling a timeout.
The Bruins led 39-31 with five minutes to play in the half, but the Gophers closed the half strong. A Durkin 3 pulled the Gophers to within 1 with one minute, 47 seconds to play. The teams went to the locker room with UCLA ahead 41-40.
The Gophers took their first lead of the second half at 54-53 on a 3 by Tyson with 13 minutes to play. The lead grew to six at 67-61 with just over six minutes to play.
A 3 by Durkin put the Gophers up 76-70 with two minutes to play. A three-point play by Bilodeau cut the Gophers’ lead in half 10 seconds later.
A missed free throw on the front end of a one and one gave the Bruins a chance to tie with just over a minute to play, but Bilodeau missed a 3.
After a Durkin miss, UCLA had the ball with 30 seconds to play. Following a timeout, Donovan Dent missed a 3 with 12.8 seconds to play.
Durkin then put the game away for the Gophers with a pair of free throws.
“What a great day,” Medved said. “It’s what you live for as a coach, as a player. High, high level basketball game. A lot of shot making a lot of plays. We just found a way to make a couple more than they did down the stretch.”
Briefly
The Gophers play at Indiana on Wednesday before closing out the regular season at home against Northwestern on Saturday.
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