Gophers' McKenzie leads win over UM
2/22/2008MINNEAPOLIS - Lawrence McKenzie had a career-high 26 points and made seven 3-pointers to lead Minnesota to a 69-60 victory over Michigan last night.
The senior guard broke out of his recent shooting slump just in time to stop Minnesota's two-game skid, halting Michigan's three-game winning streak in the process. McKenzie's seven 3-pointers tied Terrance Simmons' 2001 mark for the most in Minnesota history and was one shy of the most in Williams Arena history.
Indiana's Jay Edwards set that mark in 1988.
Spencer Tollackson added 12 points for Minnesota (16-9, 6-7 Big Ten), and Jonathan Williams helped key a 14-3 run midway through the second half that put the Gophers in control of the game for good.
McKenzie was 7-of-22 from the floor in his last three games combined. But he started hot, hitting his first three attempts from behind the arc to start the game.
The Gophers needed every ounce of McKenzie's career night to beat the suddenly hot Wolverines, who came off an impressive win against Ohio State. McKenzie went 9-for-14 from the floor while the rest of the Gophers combined for 15-for-33.
Michigan's freshman-sophomore tandem of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims again sparked the Wolverines' offense. Each had 16 points for Michigan (8-18, 4-10), the Big Ten's worst-shooting team.
The Wolverines entered the game averaging 41 percent from the floor - and they fell far short of that mark with their 22-for-70 effort against the Gophers. Harris sat late in the game after committing five turnovers.
No. 10 XAVIER 75,
DUQUESNE 48
CINCINNATI - Derrick Brown and C.J. Anderson had double-doubles and Xavier rolled to its ninth straight victory.
The Musketeers (23-4, 11-1) solidified their hold on first place in the Atlantic 10 with one of their more impressive performances.
For the third straight game, point guard Drew Lavender moved tentatively and shot sparingly because of a sprained left ankle. Lavender played 14 minutes and had five points.
B.J. Raymond (St. John's Jesuit) went 5-of-6 from the field for 13 points, making all three of his shots from behind the arc in the first half as Xavier took a 45-26 lead.
No. 17 Washington St. 59, Arizona St. 47
PULLMAN, Wash. - Derrick Low scored 15 points and Washington State relied on the Pac-10's best defense to shut down Arizona State.
Aron Baynes and Taylor Rochestie both had 10 points and six rebounds for Washington State (21-5, 9-5), which won its fourth straight, the longest current streak in the conference. The Cougars swept the two-game series with Arizona State for the second straight season.
Freshman James Harden, who averages 18 points per game, had 10 points to lead the Sun Devils (16-9, 6-7), who were held 21 points below their season average.
No. 21 Notre Dame 82, Pittsburgh 70
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Luke Harangody had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Tory Jackson added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Notre Dame, which overcame an 11-point deficit.
The Fighting Irish trailed 51-40 when Sam Young hit a 14-foot jumper with just under 14 minutes left. But Notre Dame responded with a 21-10 run, tying the game at 61 on a 3-pointer by Kyle McAlarney with 5:49 left. Harangody then scored six points, Ryan Ayers had five and Jackson three as the Irish took control with a run that made it 75-64.
Notre Dame (20-5, 10-3 Big East) has won 35 straight home games, three shy of tying the school record.
Young had 20 points for the Panthers (19-7, 7-6), who lost two straight for the first time since December 2006.