U men gameday

Last update: November 28, 2008 - 11:59 PM

Preview: North Dakota State lost unexpectedly last Saturday against Idaho. But with all five starters returning and five players averaging double figures, the Bison (2-1) have the firepower (95.3 points per game) to give the Gophers (5-0) a run in a series that has heavily favored the Gophers (22-1 against the Bison). Minnesota hasn't lost to North Dakota State since 1936. And Minnesota continues to play with a partial team after suffering numerous injuries. Forward Paul Carter (ankle sprain) and center Jonathan Williams (hernia surgery) will miss Saturday's game. But leading scorer Lawrence Westbrook (right shin) returns after missing Wednesday's win over Eastern Washington.

Key players: Minnesota natives and seniors Ben Woodside (22 points per game) and Brett Winkelman (17 points per game) have led the Bison through years of success. But this season, the Bison are eligible for the Division I NCAA tournament for the first time, giving the two seniors even more motivation. For the Gophers, Colton Iverson whipped out some offensive moves against Eastern Washington that he'd not shown previously. His career-high 20 points put opponents on notice that the 6-10 freshman isn't afraid to take the ball to the rack.

MYRON P. MEDCALF

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