Minnesota rallied from two double-digit deficits to force overtime, but did little right in the extra frame in a 75-67 loss Saturday to Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.
Rutgers scored 10 of the first 12 points in overtime, hitting 3 of 4 field goals and all four of its free throws, while Minnesota turned the ball over twice and managed only a driving layup by Dawson Garcia to fall behind 71-63 with a minute left.
Luc’Eye Patterson made a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left but it was entirely too late to make much difference as the Gophers finished the season under .500, 15-16 overall, and 7-13 in the Big Ten.
Jordan Derkack sealed it for the Scarlet Knights (15-16, 8-12) with a slam dunk and 3 seconds left on the clock at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
The Gophers lost four of their last five regular season games but advanced to the Big Ten conference tournament on a tiebreaker courtesy of road victories over Southern Cal and Nebraska.
Dawson Garcia scored a team-high 19 points and added eight rebounds, and Frank Mitchell finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Gophers, who will start tournament play on Wednesday in Indianapolis as the No. 12 seed with a 2:30 p.m. tip against Northwestern.
Minnesota didn’t help itself with its details, missing 10 free throws (13 for 23) and committing 15 turnovers, two in the decisive overtime run that Rutgers turned into points.
“I thought some of the turnovers that we had were (because of Rutgers), but I thought some of them were us, just playing loose and playing off balance,” coach Ben Johnson told reporters after the game.
Dylan Harper had six points, a steal and an assist in overtime and scored a game-high 22 points for Rutgers, which also will play in the conference tournament.
The Gophers had a 21-18 lead with 7:41 remaining in the first half, but the Scarlet Knights clamped down and finished the frame with a 20-8 run for an 11-point lead at intermission. Jeremiah Williams’ jump shot to open the second half made it 40-29, but Minnesota began chipping away.
A pair of free throws by Garcia started a 19-6 run that he also ended with a hook shot that gave Minnesota a 49-46 lead with 9:23 left in regulation. Garcia made it 56-55 in favor of Minnesota with 2:48 left, and a layup by Mitchell gave the Gophers a 58-57 lead with 1:19.
After that, they never led again, tying the game 61-61 on a shot by Garcia with 7 seconds left, and Odukale stole the ball from Rutgers with 3 seconds left to ensure overtime.
“We’ve been in a lot of tight games like this. I just told them whoever’s gonna have more juice in overtime is probably going to end up winning — not cave to fouls and the fatigue part of it,” Johnson told reporters.
Six of the Gophers free throw misses came in the second half, one in overtime.
“We’ve been burned a couple of times by that this season, just not being able to always convert on the line,” Johnson said. “And when you leave … 10 points on the board, it’s going to come back and bite you, and today, I thought it got us a little bit.”
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