Minnesota has quietly moved its way into the top 10, but on Wednesday night, it made a very loud statement that it was a serious contender by picking up an 84-67 road win over Illinois.
No. 8 Minnesota keeps rolling with 84-67 road win over No. 12 Illinois
The Golden Gophers are off to a 15-1 start this season.
USA TODAY Sports
The Golden Gophers kept the defensive pressure on Illinois all night. The Illini shot just 35.4 percent from the field and went 3-for-24 from beyond the arc. Entering the game, Illinois had made more 3-pointers than any team in the country.
Offensively, sophomore Joe Coleman led the team with 29 points, while senior Trevor Mbakwe had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Coming out the gate with a lot of energy, a physical Minnesota team grabbed a 34-30 lead at the half. It was a balanced effort for the Golden Gophers in the first half, as it shot 48 percent from the field and locked down on Illinois defensively.
Next up for Minnesota is a titanic tilt at Indiana on Saturday, while Illinois will look to bounce back on the road against Wisconsin that same day.
See More:
