Woes continue for Gophers basketball in loss to Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nate Mason looked at his driving lanes closing up fast, so he pulled up for a baseline jumper that caught nothing but air midway through the first half Wednesday at Ohio State.

Down 17 points, all signs pointed toward this being another embarrassing road effort by Richard Pitino's Gophers men's basketball team after winning its first two Big Ten road games this season.

Then pride kicked in.

The Gophers outscored the Buckeyes 12-0 to trail by just five points at halftime. That scrappiness carried over to the second half after they trailed by double figures again, but a late run wasn't enough to escape a fourth straight loss Wednesday, 78-72 in front of 11,206 at Value City Arena.

"Digging us a hole of 17 points really hurt us," Pitino said. "We showed great fight to come back. Really, really fought. So I'm proud of that. Had some opportunities in the end, but things just didn't go our way. That happens."

When that happens once, it might not be a big issue. But when things don't go the Gophers' way at the end of several close losses, it starts to look like a disturbing trend.

Minnesota (15-6, 3-5 Big Ten) suffered its fourth loss by six points or fewer in the first eight conference games. Entering Wednesday, the Gophers had lost three games by a combined five points, including twice in overtime.

"I missed a shot that I work on every day," said Springs, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. "And I had a turnover towards the end of the game. So I take a lot of that on me. But the key to that run we made was stops. That's our identity. We're a defensive team."

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A 12-4 run in the second half cut a 64-54 deficit to two on a three-pointer from Mason. Mason's two free throws brought the Gophers within striking distance again down 70-68 with 2:13 left.

The Buckeyes extended it to a six-point margin after a three-pointer from Marc Loving under a minute. Springs' three cut it to 75-72 with 48.5 seconds remaining, so the opportunity was there to steal another road victory. But the Gophers couldn't take advantage.

Minnesota took over possession with 44 seconds left after Mason tied up Kam Williams for a jump ball, but Springs lost the ball out of bounds two seconds later.

The game ended with Trevor Thompson swatting shots from Mason and Springs that added to the sting of losing on the road for the third time in four games.

"Guys just didn't make shots," said Mason, who broke out of slump with a team-high 21 points on 7-for-18 shooting. "Guys like Akeem and I, leaders of the team, we have to stay on them. We have to show them we want to win."

Loving and Thompson both had 19 points to lead the Buckeyes, who didn't resemble the team that dropped a 78-68 game in Minneapolis on Jan. 8.

On the other side, Minnesota hardly looks like the squad that won three straight after beating Purdue and Northwestern on the road and the Buckeyes at home. The Gophers return home Saturday vs. Maryland looking to avoid their longest skid since dropping 14 straight during their 8-23 2015-16 season.

Pitino's team hasn't won since it got ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in four years.

"We're mad we started off like that," Mason said. "We have to make sure we don't do that again."