Illinois Tops Gophers In Double Overtime

The Gopher men's basketball team lost their Big Ten opener 81-72 in double overtime at Illinois Tuesday night.  Minnesota trailed by as many as 13 points early in the 2nd half before going on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 3.  Julian Welch missed the front end of a 1 and 1 that would have given Minnesota a 4 point lead with 20 seconds left in regulation.  Welch also missed a layup that could have won the game at the end of the first overtime.

Ralph Sampson III led the Gophers with 22 points and 9 rebounds and Welch added 15 points.  Minnesota shot just 38 percent but forced 21 Illinois turnovers.  Minnesota had just 14 turnovers.  The Gophers are 12-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten and will play at Michigan at 3pm Sunday.