Minnesota Shuts Down Indiana

After watching Zach Puchtel give an intense effort during practice Friday, Coach Dan Monson informed the seldom-used center that he would start against Indiana’s dominant big man, Marco Killingsworth.

“I was shocked,” Puchtel said. “I thought it was a dream at first.”

Puchtel provided a spark in Minnesota’s 61-42 victory over the 13th-ranked Hoosiers on Sunday at Minneapolis.

The Gophers, 10-8 overall, 1-6 Big Ten, ended a six-game losing streak and handed Indiana its most lopsided defeat of the season.

Looking to energize his struggling team, Monson started Puchtel, who had played only 38 minutes this season, and freshman guard Jamal Abu-Shamala in place of usual starters Spencer Tollackson and Moe Hargrow.

Puchtel finished with six points and played solid defense against Killingsworth, holding him to 15 points. Abu-Shamala had seven points.

The Gophers held Indiana to 32% shooting, including five for 23 from three-point range. The Hoosiers (12-5, 4-3) entered the week leading the nation in three-point shooting (46%) and were second in overall shooting percentage (51%).

No. 9 West Virginia 66, St. John’s 61 -- The Mountaineers (15-4, 6-0 Big East) made only one basket during the final 11 minutes at Madison Square Garden and almost squandered a 13-point lead. The Red Storm (10-8, 3-4) got to within 62-60 with 30 seconds left, but Mike Gansey made four free throws in the last 14 seconds to clinch the victory.

No. 15 North Carolina State 94, Clemson 85 -- Ilian Evtimov scored 11 of his season-high 22 points in the two overtime periods to lead the Wolfpack (16-4, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) past the host Tigers (14-6, 3-4). Evtimov made four consecutive free throws in the second overtime before Cameron Bennerman’s three-point basket gave the Wolfpack an 86-79 lead with 2:18 left.

No. 20 Boston College 66, Georgia Tech 64 -- The Eagles (16-4, 4-3 ACC) made 14 of 16 free throws down the stretch, including two by Tyrese Rice with eight seconds left, to clinch the victory at Boston. The victory avenged a last-minute loss to the Yellow Jackets (9-9, 2-5) this month at Atlanta.

Seton Hall 68, No. 25 Syracuse 61 -- Jamar Nutter made a long three-point basket with 1:55 left to break a 59-59 tie, and Donald Copeland followed with another three-pointer with 72 seconds left to help the visiting Pirates (12-6, 3-3 Big East) hand the Orange (15-6, 3-4) its fourth consecutive defeat.