U seniors hit a season peak

Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune

Minnesota's Lawrence Westbrook (front) tried to take a rebound away from Ohio State's Othello Hunter in Big Ten college basketball action at Williams Arena Saturday.

Inspired play by Lawrence McKenzie injected life into Senior Day -- and the Gophers' postseason hopes.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: March 2, 2008 - 11:42 PM

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GOPHERS 71, OHIO STATE 57

Up next: at Indiana • 6 p.m. Wednesday • Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Ind. • TV: Big Ten Network (830-AM)

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For the first 20 minutes of his final regular-season home game Saturday, Lawrence McKenzie, like the Gophers' other two senior starters, couldn't shake the jitters. Some of McKenzie's family members had flown in from South Carolina to watch him play at Williams Arena on Senior Day, and he wanted to make their trip worthwhile.

He ultimately gave them plenty to talk about at the next family reunion by scoring 20 points -- all of them in a decisive second half that doomed Ohio State in a 71-57 Gophers victory.

Scoreless at halftime, McKenzie said he knew he would do well in the second half, which began with the Gophers ahead 24-23. The Gophers (18-10, 8-8 Big Ten) are 15-0 when leading at the half.

"I knew I was going to get it going somehow," said McKenzie, who hit all seven of his free-throw attempts. "I just knew I had to calm down and get those jitters out the way."

Once he did, the Buckeyes had few answers for him, and Minnesota took its first signature win of the season. The Gophers are tied for fifth place in the Big Ten with the Buckeyes with two games left and could earn a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament.

Dan Coleman contributed 13 points and five rebounds, and fellow senior Spencer Tollackson finished with three points and five rebounds.

Minnesota's younger players had to keep it in the game early, while the seniors struggled in the first half. Freshman Blake Hoffarber, who finished with 10 points, was one of few Gophers hitting shots against the Buckeyes defense, one of the best in the league. Lawrence Westbrook had 16 points and six rebounds and made all four of his free throws.

Westbrook, a sophomore, said he wanted to win so badly for the seniors that in the second half he continuously thought to himself, "We can't lose this one."

"We wanted to have one for them, the seniors; they played hard all season," he said.

The last time the teams met, on Jan. 26, Ohio State (17-12, 8-8) jumped to a 19-3 lead on its way to a 16-point victory. Buckeyes senior Jamar Butler was held to 13 points Saturday, after scoring 27 points in the first meeting.

Coach Tubby Smith said Minnesota's rebounding was the difference Saturday. The Gophers also committed only three turnovers in the second half. "I couldn't be happier for our seniors," he said. "It really was a special moment."

Injured fourth-year guard Ryan Saunders also was honored before the game.

In a sloppy first half, Minnesota overcame 11 turnovers and 30.4 percent shooting. At the 14:43 mark, Ohio State led only 4-3. The Buckeyes made only 37.5 percent of their shots in the half, including 2-for-7 from beyond the arc.

In the second half, however, McKenzie took advantage of the spacing created by Ohio State's zone defense and hit big shot after big shot. Some were clean looks. Others were off-balance, circus shots. Most of them, however, went in.

"When I get hot, I get hot," he said. "When I get hot, it's like, 'Watch out.'"

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