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Bumps don't slow U down
MVP Lawrence Westbrook and post man Ralph Sampson were big difference-makers.
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During the weekend's three-game NABC Classic, the Gophers learned something about their team that it takes other squads much longer to figure out: They have two freshman post players who aren't afraid of a little contact.
Ralph Sampson III was a part of two clutch plays in the closing minutes Sunday that helped the Gophers wrestle a 60-52 victory away from Georgia State. The Gophers start the season at 3-0 -- they defeated Division II Concordia (St. Paul), Bowling Green and Georgia State -- for the second year in a row.
Junior guard Lawrence Westbrook scored 15 points Sunday and was chosen the tournament MVP.
Sampson left the game in the first half to get a bandage for a gash on his left eye after he went after a loose ball and fell on his head.
But with Georgia State down by five points in the second half, Sampson found senior co-captain Jamal Abu-Shamala in the lane for his only assist of the night. On the following play, he flew into the lane for a layup but missed the shot. But Sampson swooped around to the other side of the rim, where he caught his own rebound and put it back for two points, giving the Gophers a nine-point lead and killing Georgia State's momentum.
Sampson's eight-point, four-rebound performance came one night after fellow freshman Colton Iverson's nine blocks against Bowling Green helped the Gophers set a team record.
"We haven't a presence like that in a while," said Abu-Shamala, who started Sunday's game and finished with six points.
Last season, coach Tubby Smith said the only way to get better interior play was through recruiting, so he signed 6-10 Iverson and 6-11 Sampson. He said their improvements speak to their growing sense of comfort.
"I can't say enough about how far Colton and Ralph have come," Smith said after Sunday's game. "That was the biggest need that we had."
But the Gophers clearly have others.
Smith said his team has to figure out how to finish against teams after building big leads. Minnesota led Bowling Green by as much as 20 points and Georgia State by 17. The teams were within three and five points, respectively, in the final minutes of their games.
The Gophers also were outrebounded against an athletic Georgia State squad, and with three more rebounds Bowling Green would have matched Minnesota's total in that game.
"I'm really concerned [about] losing leads," Smith said. "I think most of it has to do with opposing teams turning up the heat and making adjustments."
The Gophers' highlights Sunday were mostly on defense. The Gophers held Georgia State to 40.9 percent shooting, 23.1 percent from the three-point line. Minnesota also scored 21 points off 20 Panthers turnovers, although the Gophers committed 15 of their own.
In late December, the Gophers will encounter a steep increase in the level of competition when they face Louisville and begin Big Ten play.
Westbrook said the Gophers know they have a lot to figure out, even before they hit the road to face Colorado State on Saturday.
"Obviously, we're happy that we're 3-0," he said. "I think the biggest thing is learning what we did wrong."
• Bowling Green (2-1) closed out the NABC Classic at Williams Arena with an 82-61 victory over Concordia (St. Paul) on Sunday.
The Falcons made 50.8 percent of their shots. The Golden Bears (0-2) shot only 21.2 percent in the first half and never recovered.
Darryl Clements had 22 points and Brian Moten added 21 for Bowling Green. Craig Heiman, last season's leading scorer in the Division II Northern Sun Conference, finished with 18 points.
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