Wolverines handed first loss by Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS » Liam Robbins had 22 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes to lead No. 23 Minnesota to a 75-57 victory over No. 7 Michigan on Saturday, handing the Wolverines their first loss.
Marcus Carr scored 17 points and Gabe Kalscheur added 10 points for the Gophers (11-4, 4-4 Big Ten), who played their seventh straight game against an opponent ranked in the Associated Press poll.
Minnesota never trailed, holding the best shooting team in the conference to a season-low score and a season-high 20 turnovers.
According to Minnesota’s research, this is the most consecutive ranked opponents for any NCAA team since St. John’s played eight Top 25 teams in a row in 2011.
Chaundee Brown Jr. scored 14 points and Isaiah Livers added 11 points for the Wolverines (111, 6-1), who played without senior guard Eli Brooks due to a foot injury suffered in a recent practice.
The Gophers were back in their happy place after five days to recuperate
and refocus from decisive defeats last week at Michigan and Iowa.
Given that they’re not playing in front of fans, with no raucous student sections to create an energy boost at home or a daunting distraction on the road, the Gophers have displayed a remarkably split personality this season.
Their four losses — all to Big Ten teams ranked in the top 14 of the latest poll and all away from home — have come by an average margin of 19.8 points.
Robbins made all three of his 3-point attempts in the second half and exacted some revenge on Hunter Dickinson, who got the better of him in the first matchup of the 7-footers and two of the best big men in the nation.
Dickinson, who had 28 points against the Gophers at home while going 12 for 15 from the floor, scored nine points and had five turnovers. Marcus Carr added 17 points.