Gophers are competitive for a while, then fade

BLOOMINGTON, IND. - Late in the game, the Gophers walked toward the sideline during a timeout displaying the universal sign of exhaustion -- hands on their hips, eyes staring down at the floor.

For about 32 minutes, Minnesota played some of its best and most tiring basketball of the season. And it still wasn't enough.

A 21-7 run in the final eight minutes -- after the teams were tied 48-48 -- gave No. 18 Indiana a 69-55 victory Wednesday night. Minnesota's constant pressure frustrated Indiana into 10 turnovers. And its inside game was an unexpected asset early -- the Gophers scored 22 points in the paint.

However, late-game turnovers, one too many passes and poor shooting left Gophers players with plenty of footage to show how close they were to pulling off an upset in front of an announced crowd of 17,346.

"It's kind of same M.O. we've had in the past," Gophers coach Tubby Smith said. "We'll play well, and then we'll shoot ourselves in the foot by turning it over like we did and not playing with the poise we need late in the game."

Minutes before the end of regulation, Indiana fans -- many of whom were at Assembly Hall to honor senior D.J. White, playing the last home game of his career -- sat silently as the Gophers tied the score at 48-48 apiece at the 7:58 mark of the second half. White hit a deep three-pointer to end the first half, but the momentum and 31-27 lead created by that unlikely shot was eradicated when Minnesota stormed back in the second half.

After the two teams were tied at 48, however, Indiana (25-5, 14-3 Big Ten) went on its run and hit its free throws at the end, winning despite shooting only 41 percent from the field.

Gophers guard Lawrence McKenzie, who finished with a game-high 22 points in 31 minutes, said the problem was his team's ongoing struggle to seize chances to win close games.

"We just got to take advantage of our opportunities ... and we've got to make shots," he said. "We kind of let it go. That's something that's been bothering us all year."

Four of Minnesota's 16 turnovers came during the final eight minutes of the game and put the team in a familiar place: down late in a close game against a ranked team. An unranked Gophers team hasn't beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 1985.

But the Gophers (18-11, 8-9) had a chance to end that streak against an Indiana team that has had some tough games since former coach Kelvin Sampson resigned Feb. 22 and interim coach Dan Dakich took over. Smith said the Gophers lost their cool late in the game.

"Our game plan was working for the most part, until we started to panic and turn the ball over," he said.

The Hoosiers stayed calm and ultimately won it at the free-throw line, making 20 out of 22 attempts, compared to Minnesota's 10-for-17.

Eric Gordon had 20 points for Indiana and made 12 of 14 free-throw attempts. White had 17 points and five rebounds, and Smith called him the best player in the conference.