Being as it was the second day of the new year but also still the bowl season (and for several more days), maybe it was appropriate that college hoops had a couple contests about as long as a college football game last night.
The night had single overtime (Maine nipped Columbia 75-72) but also double overtime and even triple. And both of the latter games felt like they might never end.
The Big Ten will have plenty of barnburners all season long, but it still may not get a wilder game than the one Purdue and Minnesota played last night. Going two overtimes and playing for just under three hours, their contest had all kinds of twists and turns (and seemingly even more officiating reviews), but in the end the Boilermakers pulled out a drama-filled 83-78 win at Mackey Arena.
The winner of this one came purely by survival, as the Boilermakers and Golden Gophers were close all night with 13 ties, 16 lead changes and neither leading by more than eight points the entire game.
Purdue built an eight-point lead early on. Minnesota came back. The Boilers looked ready to take control when it moved out to an eight-point lead in the second half, but Minnesota responded and actually led down the stretch. It took a steal-blocked layup-offensive rebound-three-pointer sequence in the final 20 seconds of regulation to get the Boilers to extra time, as Sasha Stefanovic’s quick-release, almost fall-away three with 15 seconds left tied it.
The Gophers again led by one in the closing seconds of the first overtime and appeared in the driver’s seat before a backcourt steal resulted in Trevion Williams eventually fouled on a putback attempt with six seconds left. He split two free throws to tie the game and send it to a second extra session, where Purdue opened up a six-point lead before Minnesota rallied-again. Stefanovic broke a 75-75 tie with another clutch three with 1:11 left, though, and the Boilermakers at last sewed it up at the line.
Who knows just where the seasons for Purdue and Minnesota will go. Both showed enough inconsistency out of conference that there’s no guarantee they’re NCAA Tournament teams, but from a purely subjective view both looked the part Thursday. The Boilermakers continue to be an underrated, battle-tested program that will continue to find a way. Meanwhile, the Gophers may have not one but two of the nation’s biggest breakout players, with the word on Daniel Oturu (29 points, 18 rebounds) starting to get out but Marcus Carr (27 points) perhaps not far behind after scoring 35 in a win over Ohio State before dominating the game at times Thursday before going quiet late.
Not to be outdone, Missouri-Kansas City and Seattle played three overtimes on the night. Not until Rob Whitfield made 3 of 4 free throws in the final seconds did UMKC finish off a 90-86 win in 55 minutes of game play.
The Kangaroos and Redhawks were tied at 56-56 at the end of regulation. Jahshire Hardnett scored a career-best 28 off the bench and played 50 of 55 minutes for UMKC (which confusingly now wants to be called ‘Kansas City,’ even though there is no University of Kansas City). The Kangaroos have been one of the nice stories lurking just off the radar this year, and after going 11-21 last year they’re now 8-7 under first-year coach and former Wright State head man Billy Donlon.
Side Dishes:
- The first game of the day early in the afternoon saw Florida International edge Texas-El Paso 69-67, bouncing back after playing poorly and getting blown out by Minnesota in its last game. Osasumwen Osaghae leads the country in blocked shots, and he blocked four more and set the new FIU school career blocks record. A bigger story developed as the day went on, though, as it was learned UTEP coach Rodney Terry was hospitalized in Miami in what was termed critical but stable condition after having an allergic reaction to food. Terry was being treated in the Jackson Memorial Hospital intensive care unit, but the good news is he is expected to make a full recovery. Assistant coach Kenton Paulino headed the Miners in Thursday’s game, and it actually wasn’t his first experience at the helm, as he also finished a game at Tulsa last year against Connecticut when Golden Hurricane coach Frank Haith and UConn’s Dan Hurley were both ejected.
- Another top-five team went down on Thursday, and like so many occasions this year it should’ve been a surprise to no one. Oregon is a very good team but probably was ranked No. 4 by default more than accomplishment. Colorado is also at the least an NCAA tourney bid contender, maybe much more, and the Buffaloes handled the Ducks 74-65. McKinley Wright scored 21 and added eight assists and Tyler Bey notched a big double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds).
- Top-ranked Gonzaga getting a scare at Portland was a surprise; the Bulldogs trailed at halftime before eventually turning it on for an 85-72 win. More impressive in the WCC was Saint Mary’s, which took an early punch from San Francisco, then controlled the rest of the game for a 69-58 win on the road.
- UCLA has had plenty of dim moments early this season, but the Bruins took a step in the right direction with a 66-64 win at Washington. Jake Kyman hit seven triples off the bench for 21 points, three more points than he’d scored the entire season. His last three with eight seconds left was the game-winner. Also in the Pac-12, Stanford beat rival California 68-52 to move to 12-2.
- A surprise in the state of Rhode Island, though maybe this shouldn’t be, either. Brown upended Rhode Island 85-75, as the 163rd meeting between these rivals saw the Bears snap URI’s seven-game win streak in the series. The Ivy League continues to prove to be more than a novelty-even second division teams are capable of beating top 100 teams-and Brown now has knocked off Rhody and Providence in recent years.
- There was one certifiable stunner on the night in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville finished 10-21 last year, has won 31 games combined over the last four years and has a new coach in Brian Barone. Belmont won 27 games alone last year and along with Murray State has been the standard in the OVC since joining the league. Belmont also was at home, but SIU-Edwardsville won at the Curb Events Center 79-69 for certainly the Cougars’ biggest win as a D-I program. SIUE outrebounded Belmont 46-35, five players scored in double figures and the guests took advantage of the Bruins making just 8 of 36 from long range, 22.2%. What a great moment for a program that has struggled for years.
- Ranked teams winning: Michigan State drilled Illinois with unexpected ease, 76-56, as Xavier Tillman put together a nice line (19 points, seven boards, six assists). Dayton also dominated La Salle on the road 84-58, looking every bit the part of their ranking.
- Liberty moved to 15-1 with a workmanlike 59-46 win at Florida Gulf Coast. Despite wearing some awful uniforms, the Flames held an opponent below 50 for the seventh time. Also, for all the flak Liberty has and will take for its schedule, it should be noted this was the sixth straight game the Flames have played away from home. A 5-1 record in those games with wins at Grand Canyon and Vanderbilt and at a neutral site over Akron and Towson isn’t bad.
- Stephen F. Austin improved to 3-0 in the Southland with its second road win in conference, winning at SE Louisiana.
- If you haven’t watched a Loyola (Md.) game this year, you need to. Andrew Kostecka is one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the country, and he scored a career-high 37 as the Greyhounds beat hapless (now 1-13) Holy Cross 80-70. Also in the Patriot League, Colgate won for the ninth time in 10 games, finishing strong for a 65-51 win over American. The Raiders have done nothing to discourage the idea that they’re going to be a team to watch in March.
- Scoring honors for the night go to Ian DuBose of Houston Baptist, as he scored 44 and the Huskies finally got their first win, defeating Central Arkansas 111-107 in overtime.
- Winthrop topped Longwood 91-67, and we had a triple-double as Chandler Vaudrin posted 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
- How about UNC Charlotte, up to 7-5 after a 51-41 win over UAB? Ron Sanchez is doing a nice job with the 49ers.
- Finally, Merrimack’s first conference game at the D-I level continues to prove the Warriors are going to be a formidable addition to the Northeast Conference. Merrimack won at Sacred Heart 65-57, winning on the road at the team picked second in the NEC preseason poll.
Today’s Menu: The first Friday of January has a light-ish schedule of 20 games, but eight are on national TV outlets.
- FS1 features a solid reversal of its old Big Monday format (Big Friday?), with the Big Ten followed by the Big East. (Many may not remember that this was the original Big Monday on ESPN). First up is Wisconsin at Ohio State (7 p.m. Eastern) and that’s followed by Georgetown at Seton Hall (9 p.m.). The Hoyas had won six straight before a New Year’s Eve loss at Providence without Mac McClung due to an eye injury, and his status is up in the air yet for this one.
- The MAC gets a doubleheader on CBS Sports Network. First up is Toledo at Ball State (7 p.m.) in a West Division battle. Then it’s to the East, where Kent State is at preseason favorite Bowling Green (9 p.m.).
- ESPNU also has a solid twinbill. The Horizon League has become a regular on the U, and perennial first-division teams meet with Wright State at Oakland (7 p.m.). That’s followed by one of those weird American Athletic Conference ‘rivalries’ between schools nearly 1,300 miles apart that nonetheless is often a good matchup, as Temple is at Tulsa (9 p.m.).
- Also in the American, Central Florida is at Houston (7 p.m., ESPN2), two NCAA tourney teams last year. The Knights will be stubborn all year, but the Cougars look like a team that should keep getting better.
- Rutgers is at Nebraska (8 p.m., Big Ten Network), and it’s the type of very winnable game the Scarlet Knights need to win on the road if they’re an NCAA Tournament contender.
- The rest of the schedule includes a full night in the Metro Atlantic, including Monmouth at Siena (7 p.m.) as perhaps the best one. St. Peter’s at Iona (7 p.m.) also is a matchup of two charter members of the MAAC.
- Delaware is at Drexel in a CAA duel (7 p.m.).
Have a great Friday and 10th day of Christmas.
