Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Northern State University senior Kevin Ratzsch scored a game-high 20 points, but it wasn't enough as the host University of Minnesota Gophers claimed a decisive 92-62 victory Thursday evening in exhibition men's basketball action.

The Division I Gophers, who survived an exhibition match-up scare from Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe St. Cloud State earlier in the week, had four players in double-figures, led by point guard Lawrence Westbrook's 19 points.

The Wolves put up a hard-fought battle of their own in the first half, never letting the Tubby Smith-led Gophers get more than six points ahead until a Paul Carter 3-pointer sparked a 9-0 Minnesota run that put the Gophers up 40-27 to end the first half.

NSU, despite the effort through much of the first half, went 0-for-4 in field goal attempts in the final 4:17 of that first period, giving the Gophers the breathing room they needed to take control of the game.

Minnesota quickly extended their 13-point halftime edge into a 16-point advantage to start the second half and never looked back, holding the Wolves to a 39.2 shooting effort from the floor for the game.

Junior guard Mitch Boeck added 14 points for the Wolves while sophomore Bojan Todorovic had seven points and six boards off the bench.

NSU remains on the road for their final exhibition tune-up of the season, facing Purdue University on Thursday for their second Division I game of the preseason.  Game time for that contest is set for 7 p.m. (EST) in West Lafayette, Ind.  Fans can watch all the action live at video.bigtennetwork.com.