Patrick Reusse: In second half, it's McKenzie and more

After both teams stumbled and bumbled in the first half, the Gophers were able to fend off the Buckeyes.

By PATRICK REUSSE, Star Tribune

Last update: March 1, 2008 - 11:19 PM

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The Gophers and Ohio State were tied 26-26 and had played 90 seconds of the second half. The 21 1/2 minutes that had been contested to that point were as dreadful to watch as anything the Big Ten can offer, including games that involve Northwestern.

Lawrence McKenzie had taken four shots in the first half and missed them all. For good measure, McKenzie also contributed four turnovers.

This made him only slightly below average among the shooters and the ballhandlers who were violating the sacred hardwood of Williams Arena.

The Gophers shot 30.4 percent with 11 turnovers in the first half. Yet, the visiting Buckeyes were so shabby in all areas -- particularly on the defensive board -- that the Gophers were able to hold a 24-23 lead.

Much later, Gophers coach Tubby Smith was talking about how well his team had played in its final Big Ten home game. This caused a reporter to say:

"It was awfully ugly in the first half. Weren't you upset?"

Smith shook his head and said: "No, we were leading. I thought we just needed to make some shots. We had played very good defense in the first half."

Coaches see stumbling and bumbling from two major college teams and say, "Very good defense." Neutral parties see what the Gophers and the Buckeyes had to offer in the first half and say, "I know how the NCAA Selection Committee can solve its Ohio State or Minnesota quandary. Don't take either of 'em."

The second half opened in similar fashion -- with fouls and turnovers, and then McKenzie came open behind the three-point line and finally buried one.

That gave the Gophers a 29-26 lead with 18:24 remaining. Over the next 6 1/2 minutes, McKenzie would make two more threes, he would lean into a defender and hit a long two at the end of a shot clock, and he would make two free throws.

McKenzie would go from zero to 13 points, and the Gophers would go from a 26-all tie to a 42-37 lead. Then, Lawrence Westbrook would hit a three, hit a pull-up jumper and turn a steal into a layup for a 51-40 lead with 9:47 remaining.

The final was 71-57, Gophers, and now the Buckeyes have lost four in a row to fall to 8-8. Smith's club has won three of four to equal that 8-8.

Jamar Butler, Ohio State's senior guard, looked like a dead man walking for most of the second half. With no backup point guard, Butler leads the Big Ten in minutes played (more than 37 per game) and the workload has ground him into the court.

McKenzie was the anti-Butler in the second half. Once that first three fell, this senior guard was as energized and full of fire as at any time in his three years (and two seasons) back home in Minneapolis.

McKenzie made five of seven shots in the second half, was 7-for-7 from the line and finished with 20 points. The other half of the Lawrence brothers, Westbrook, was 4-for-5 in the second half and scored 10 of his 16 points.

This was the Gophers' first victory over a team with an RPI in the top 100. Ohio State entered Saturday's game at No. 48, although it must be pointed out that was due more to the teams the Buckeyes have played (24th in strength of schedule) than the teams they have defeated.

The Gophers need either an upset at Indiana on Wednesday night or a run in the Big Ten tournament to get a serious look from the NCAA selection committee.

The second of those things is imminently possible, when you consider the Gophers -- if they can claim fifth place -- would have the pleasure of playing Michigan State, with its often-horrible offense, in the second round of the conference tournament.

What the Gophers need to make a long-shot run to the tournament would be more streaks of long shooting from McKenzie.

You always been a streak shooter, Lawrence?

"I would say so," he said. "When I get hot, I get hot. When I get hot, it's like, 'Watch out.' I'll hit it from anywhere."

Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. • preusse@startribune.com

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