Box Score Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Cornell put a scare into No. 13 Minnesota, leading for a long stretch and never trailing by more than six points, but the Golden Gophers gigantic edge in rebounding and free-throw attempts in a 71-66 loss at Williams Arena on Saturday evening. Minnesota improved to 7-1 with the victory, while the Big Red fell to 2-6 in its fifth-straight loss.
Errick Peck was sensational for the Big Red, registering 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Chris Wroblewski hit for 16 points and five assists on his 21st birthday. The Big Red connected on 14 3-pointers, including four by Andrew Ferry as part of a 14-point night. Sophomore Peter McMillan scored a career-high nine points and grabbed four rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench when the Big Red's entire frontcourt got in foul trouble.
Cornell was whistled for 32 fouls against a bigger Golden Gopher squad, which attempted 44 free throws to just 14 for the Big Red. Trevor Mbakwe led the Golden Gophers with 12 points and 16 rebounds without making a field goal, while Ralph Sampson III and Blake Hoffarber each notched 13. The home team outrebounded Cornell 48-33 and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
The game was nothing like Tuesday's loss at the Carrier Dome to No. 7 Syracuse that saw the home team control from the tip, as Cornell came out with energy, scored the first four points and led nearly the entire first half. Minnesota's bulk inside finally put the home team ahead 34-33 at the half.
The Big Red drained eight 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes, including two each by McMillan, Gray and Wroblewski, but it was an eventual late 7-0 Golden Gopher run to end the half that saw the Golden Gophers go ahead at the break. Minnesota dominated the backboards with 13 offensive boards to a 27-13 advantage at the break. Cornell lost the services of both starting center Mark Coury (two fouls), backup Josh Figini (three fouls) and Adam Wire (two fouls) to foul trouble to give an already shorthanded frontcourt a bigger disadvantage in the post.
The second half wasa back and forth affair, with Peck's free throws putting the visitors up 40-38 with 15:22 to play. Another jumper by the sophomore, this one off the glass, made it 45-41 Big Red with 12:24 to play, but Minnesota responded with a 9-0 run to turn that deficit into a 50-45 Golden Gophers lead. Ferry scored five quick points in the span of 17 seconds to knot the score, but consecutive baskets inside by Maurice Walker gave the home team back a lead it wouldn't reliquish. A pull-up 3-pointer by Wroblewski with 1L22 to play made it a 65-63 game, and after a pair of offensive rebound tip-outs, Ferry had a pair of looks to knot the game, but neither was able to fall. Free throws extended Minnesota's lead to eight late before McMillan hit the last of the Big Red's treys with 2.8 seconds remaining, but it was too little, too late.
Cornell will take the momentum of its effort into a two-week break for final exams before visiting Binghamton on Satuday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.
