Gophers errors end in 68-66 overtime loss to Wichita State

Thursday’s game against Wichita State gave the Gophers men’s basketball team a rare opportunity to earn a quality nonconference win away from Williams Arena.

It was left wanting.

Minnesota led by five with two minutes left, but couldn’t close it out in crunch time and lost 68-66 in overtime to undefeated Wichita State in an ESPN Events Invitational semifinal in Orlando, Fla.

Minnesota (5-2) will play in the third place game Friday against the loser in the second semifinal: No. 18 Florida (6-0) or Wake Forest (6-1).

The Gophers didn’t foul in the end of regulation, but did foul at the end of overtime. Both can be constituted as errors that contributed to the defeat to Wichita State (6-0).

Tied 66-66 in overtime, Frank Mitchell fouled Justin Hill with four seconds remaining. Hill made both free throws and Brennan Rigsby’s double-clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer hit the rim four times before falling off.

In regulation, Minnesota led 55-50 with 2:34 remaining, but couldn’t strong. Bell and Harold Beverly each made layups to cut the U lead to 55-54 with 10 seconds left.

True freshman Isaac Asuma sank both free throws to extend lead to 57-54 with 10 seconds left.

Head coach Ben Johnson did not appear to instruct his players to foul while up three, and Harold Beverly hit a lightly contested game-tying a 3-pointer with one second left to force overtime.

Dawson Garcia was subjected to two suspect foul calls for his fourth with five minutes left in regulation and his fifth in overtime. He finished a season low four points on 1 of 7 shooting.

The first half was ugly. Minnesota had nine turnovers and shot only 13% from 3-point range (1 of 8) but only trailed 25-24 at the break.

Wichita State did not have to respect the Gophers’ shooting, so they collapsed in double teams on Garcia, who was limited to three points on 1 of 3 shooting.

Minnesota’s defense kept them in the game, forcing the Shockers to shoot 37% from the field in the first half.

The Gophers fell to its second American Athletic Conference team this season, after North Texas won 54-51 at The Barn on Nov. 13.