Evanston, IL (My Sportsbook) - The 18th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers shoot for their first 5-1 start in the Big Ten since 1976-77, as they drop in on the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Gophers opened league play with a loss to Michigan State, but since have responded with a four-game win streak for their first 4-1 start since the 1981-82 campaign. Minnesota most recently pulled out a 78-74 victory in overtime at Wisconsin on Thursday, giving the team its first four-game conference win streak since 2004-05. The triumph also improved the Gophers to a healthy 16-1 overall and that also includes a 4-0 mark in games played away from home.
As for Northwestern, it enters the contest still in search of its first Big Ten win having dropped its first four outings. On Thursday, it appeared the Wildcats would get that elusive first league win, but they were unable to hold off Purdue in a tough 63-61 loss. It was the fifth setback in the last six games by the Wildcats, who fell to 8-6 overall and 7-2 at home.
The all-time series between Northwestern and Minnesota is led by the Gophers, 86-56, and they have won the last four meetings in the rivalry.
The Gophers used a 20-10 run over the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime and in the extra session they made 4-of-5 field goals and 8- of-9 free throws to stun Wisconsin, 78-74. Minnesota shot 48.3 percent from the floor in the contest and finished 15-of-18 at the charity stripe. Lawrence Westbrook led the charge with a career-high 29 points and his three-pointer with two seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime. Devron Bostick and Damian Johnson each tallied 11 points, while Paul Carter had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. On the season, Westbrook is the only player on the roster averaging in double figures, with 13.8 ppg, and he is shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range. As a team, Minnesota is turning in a respectable 72.5 ppg, while limiting opposing clubs to only 61.8 ppg.
Purdue's JaJuan Johnson made a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds left, as Northwestern saw a 14-point lead evaporate into a 63-61 loss on Thursday. It was a tough finish for the Wildcats, who were dominated on the boards, 45-29, and shot a lackluster 35.7 percent from the floor. Kevin Coble and Craig Moore each turned in 16 points to pace Northwestern in defeat. On the season, Coble leads the Wildcats in scoring (14.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg) and he also has a team-best 20 steals to his credit. Moore has provided a nice complement to him with 13.6 ppg and he is shooting a solid 43.1 percent from downtown. The Wildcats, though, have struggled as a team in conference play, averaging only 57.2 ppg on just 38.0 percent shooting from the floor through four games.
