Former Gophers basketball star, Minneapolis City prep coach Eric Magdanz dies at 80

Eric Magdanz, a standout for the Gophers basketball team in the early 1960s and longtime teacher and coach in Minneapolis high schools for 31 years, died on Saturday.

Magdanz, who lived in south Minneapolis, was 80.

March 5 was the 60th anniversary of Magdanz setting the Gophers single-game scoring record of 42 points in his team's 102-80 victory at Michigan. The record was equaled in 1971 by Ollie Shannon but has not been broken.

The 6-6 Magdanz scored 1,083 points in his Gophers career, averaging 17.5 points per game.

After playing three seasons for the Gophers, Magdanz went to work as a coach and teacher at Minneapolis South high school, his alma mater. He spent 17 years at South before moving to Minneapolis Roosevelt. He also served as athletic director at both schools.

JOEL RIPPEL

Motzko, Hastings both up for top coaching honor

The Gophers' Bob Motzko and Minnesota State Mankato's Mike Hastings, whose teams will face each other in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals on April 7 in Boston, are among the eight finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the top coach in Division I men's hockey.

Also up for the award, sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, are North Dakota's Brad Berry, Denver's David Carle, Northeastern's Jerry Keefe, American International's Eric Lang, Michigan's Mel Pearson and Quinnipiac's Rand Pecknold.

Etc.

The Gophers men's golf team finished 15th or last at the Valspar Collegiate in Palm City, Fla., with a tournament total of 20-over 872. Sophomore Ben Warian closed with a 70 for a 1-under 212, tying him for 31st.

Former Gophers basketball guard Payton Willis will compete in the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship, scheduled for Friday through Sunday at The Sugar Mill in New Orleans. The winning team will share $50,000 plus bonuses from earlier wins.

Former Cobber Nathaniel Kahlbaugh was named the head coach of the Concordia (Moorhead) men's golf program. He was a two-time MIAC all-conference golfer there, finishing as high as a tie for sixth place in the conference meet in 2017.