Mens College Basketball: Hoffarber, Gophers roll past North Dakota State, 84-65

Blake Hoffarber scored a season-high 24 points to lead No. 15/17 Minnesota to an 84-65 victory over North Dakota State in non-conference action in Williams Arena on Wednesday. The Golden Gophers improved to 6-0 on the season.

Hoffarber scored 15 points in the first half to spot the Gophers to a 42-26 halftime lead. Trevor Mbakwe scored eight of his 12 points in the second half to help extend Minnesota’s lead. Colton Iverson came off the bench to lead Minnesota in rebounds with 11.

Minnesota used a 13-0 run in the last four minutes of the first half to push a three-point advantage to a 42-26 halftime lead. Hoffarber capped the run with a jumper as time expired.

The Bison chipped away at the Gopher lead in the second half. Back-to-back three-pointers by Nate Zastrow and Taylor Braun were part of an 8-1 run that brought NDSU to within six points at 50-44 with 12:24 remaining.

The Gophers worked the ball around looking for the shot they wanted in the game’s most important possession. Al Nolen spotted Hoffarber behind the arc, the senior sharpshooter netted a big triple to end the Bison rally. The Minnesota lead was never again threatened. Nolen finished with five assists, a number matching his tally of steals in the game. Hoffarber was 4-of-8 from three-point range.

Building a 33-16 advantage in bench scoring, the Gophers extended their lead to as big as 24 points on a Chip Armelin lay-up with 1:55 left to play.

North Dakota State (3-2) was led by Michael Tveidt’s 14 points. Drew Lundberg added 11.

Minnesota’s next action is Monday, Nov. 29, when the Gophers play host to Virginia in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

Courtesy: University of Minnesota