U's turnovers too much to overcome

Terry Gilliam, Associated Press

A Minneapolis City Conference matchup: Gophers guard Al Nolen (Henry ’07) was guarded by Ohio State’s P.J. Hill (North ’06).

Blake Hoffarber's rediscovered shooting touch couldn't save the Gophers, whose 17 turnovers proved to be their downfall.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: February 8, 2009 - 12:38 PM

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OHIO STATE 64, NO. 19 GOPHERS 58 NEXT: 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Indiana • Williams Arena • TV: Big Ten Network (830-AM)

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COLUMBUS, OHIO — In the game of basketball, taking of the care of the ball is not only a rule, it's a law, with failure punishable by stinging losses, blows to a team's confidence and a fall in the standings, as the Gophers discovered in a 64-58 defeat to Ohio State on Saturday night.

Not even Blake Hoffarber suddenly snapping out of a lengthy shooting slump could help the No. 19 Gophers (18-5, 6-5 Big Ten) evade the consequences of 17 turnovers: 14 Buckeyes points off those turnovers and a drop to sixth place in the Big Ten. Evan Turner's 18 points, 10 rebounds and 7-for-8 free-throw shooting in the final 1 minutes, 4 seconds of play helped, too.

But turnovers contributed to Buckeyes runs of 10-0 in the first half and 12-5 in the second half, three days after the Gophers had 16 turnovers in their worst loss in a nearly a decade, a 29-blowout at Michigan State.

"Pretty disappointed to see, because some of them were unforced," Gophers coach Tubby Smith said. "I would say a few of them were just rushing ... that cost us down the stretch there because we had opportunities, missed opportunities."

Hoffarber went 5-for-6 from the three-point line in the final 8 minutes, 24 seconds of the game after shooting 7-for-37 in 10 previous Big Ten games. His long-range daggers kept Minnesota in a game that the Buckeyes (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten) led for the majority of the night.

After five Gophers turnovers in six minutes, Hoffarber nailed a three to cut Ohio State's lead to 38-34 midway through the second half. He made his next three attempts from behind the line, even making a hostile Value City Arena crowd announced at 19,049 ooh and ahh.

Hoffarber's four-point play with a little more than five minutes to go gave the Gophers hope. Another Hoffarber three with 3:46 to play made it 55-52 Ohio State.

But from that point on, the Gophers went 3-for-10 and missed their final three free throws.

Paul Carter had a turnover, two errant free throws and multiple missed putbacks in less than a 30-second span with under two minutes to play. Failure to box out cost the Gophers a B.J. Mullens dunk on a Jon Diebler rebound and a Turner layup after Ohio State barely beat the shot clock.

"I wish we could have gotten the W," said Hoffarber, whose six threes were one shy of tying a Gophers Big Ten record. "It all goes for waste if you don't win."

Turner led four Ohio State players who scored in double figures. Hoffarber's 19 points in 21 minutes led all scorers. Damian Johnson added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Gophers, who didn't use a 38-31 rebounding edge to their advantage.

With three road games left in what has become a rough February for the Gophers, Johnson said his team needs to regroup, beginning with Indiana at home on Tuesday.

"Just stay focused and work hard at practice," he said. "It ain't much else we can do."

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