Gophers men count on defense again in win over Jacksonville

First-year Gophers coach Ben Johnson wanted to provide his basketball team with the best examples of championship-level defense going into this year, so he showed players various video clips of the Milwaukee Bucks and Baylor Bears.

Both teams relied on their respective defensive strengths to win the NBA and NCAA titles last season.

Away from the offensive giants this season, the Gophers remain unbeaten by making it difficult for opponents to score, something that continued Wednesday night in a 55-44 win against Jacksonville in front of an announced 9,250 crowd at Williams Arena.

“We’re pushing 16 turnovers and we’re not a team that refuses turnovers,” Johnson said. “It’s just by having constant pressure. They know we have to win games like this. There will be games when it’s going to be bad. You just have to defend.”

Payton Willis and Jamison Battle combined for 31 points for the Gophers, who held off the Dolphins with 32% shooting, including 1-for-15 from three-point range.

The Gophers started 5-0 for the second straight season, but they scored just 30 points in Wednesday’s first half. That’s still pretty good for a comfortable 10-point lead.

Minnesota outrebounds 46-28, including allowing 17 offensive rebounds that make it hard to pull away at times. But a fundamental part of U’s identity this season has been to frustrate opponents running their half-court sets.

BOXSCORE: Gophers 55, Jacksonville 44

For the second game in a row, The Gophers fell behind in the first half in front of the home crowd. But Jacksonville’s early three-point lead was short-lived as the Dolphins saved just 31% of their shots and made nine turnovers at half-time.

“He instilled in us defensive strength and grit,” said Battle, who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. “That’s something we remember. I think everyone in this team likes to defend. It’s a mindset that’s been in our heads since the first day of training.”

In a 78-49 win against Purdue Fort Wayne last week, the Gophers erased an early 10-point deficit with aggressive man-to-man pressure that forced 11 of IPFW’s 20 first-half turnovers.

The diminutive Gophers, who played in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, outrebounded for a second game in a row — and in worrying fashion. They’re one of the worst teams in the country at offensive rebounds but don’t send many players crashing into the board from missed shots.

Johnson prefers to have a body rushing back to stop the transition basket, keep the three-point line and hold the opponent for one shot. An unusual night, giving up so many offensive boards was the result of forcing so many long-jump shots, Willis said.

“The ball went out far,” he said. “The big boxers are doing a great job boxing. Our keeper needs to get better at getting those long loose balls.”

Minnesota entered first game in the Top Ten in three-point defense percentage (23.9), first in defensive rebounds (33.0), second in steals (8.25), sixth in turnover margin (plus-1.25), and sixth in the block (4,25 ).

The Dolphins (2-2) equalized 43-35 after Gyasi Powell’s layup with just under eight minutes to play Wednesday, but EJ Stephens and Willis nailed three straight points to answer.

Sean Sutherlin, who came off the bench with eight of his 10 points in the first half, then struck hard by scoring a turnover to kick off a 9-0 run that took the game away.

It was a brutal night shooting from long range on both sides. The Gophers were 4-for-19, but Jacksonville missed the first 14 threes with 42 seconds remaining in the second half.

Dolphins top scorer Jordan Davis, who is averaging 14 points, was held to four points on 1-for-11 shooting.

Johnson told the Gophers before the season that games had to be won very badly with defence, and Wednesday night was a perfect example.

“We tried to create our own luck by forcing hard, challenging shots,” Johnson said. “I think our guys are really doing a good job of it.”