Marcus Carr scored 32 points to lead Minnesota past visiting Saint Louis 90-82 on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
The Gophers (7-1) also got strong games from Liam Robbins (10 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots), Isaiah Ihnen (10 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots) and Both Gach (11 points, eight rebounds) as they bounced back nicely from a 92-65 loss at No. 13 Illinois on Tuesday night.
The Billikens (6-1) brought an 11-game winning streak dating to last season but that ended despite Jordan Goodwin's 21-point, 10-rebound performance, the 29th double-double of the senior's career.
Hasahn French (12 points, five rebounds), Javonte Perkins (11 points) and Yuri Collins (seven assists) played well for the Billikens, but each fouled out.
Minnesota played an outstanding defensive game, blocking nine shots, earning six steals and limiting Saint Louis to 2-for-15 shooting from 3-point range.
The Billikens tried to establish French on the offensive low post against Robbins, with French scoring three quick baskets by attacking the rim.
But Minnesota raced to a 17-10 lead with Carr scoring 14 points in the first 6:25 of the game. Carr, who came into the game averaging 22.7 points, knocked down a 3-point jumper 43 seconds in and just kept firing.
The Billikens stabilized with a 7-0 run. Demarius Jacobs started it with a transition layup and he capped it with a 3-point jumper.
The Gophers led 42-40 at the half and came out flying after the break.
The used a 12-2 surge -- aided by technical foul on Saint Louis coach Travis Ford -- to forge a 54-44 lead early in the second half. Robbins scored two baskets in the paint and Gach hit the 3-point shot that gave Minnesota a double-digit lead.
The Gophers held Perkins, the Billikens' leading scorer coming into the game, to just two first-half points. But Perkins warmed up in the second half, leading the Billikens back within six points at the 12:27 mark.
But they couldn't get closer than four points as their foul trouble mounted. Minnesota led by as many as 15 with 3:53 to go.
--Field Level Media
Saint Louis | Minnesota | |
Jordan Goodwin 21 | Scoring | Marcus Carr 32 |
Yuri Collins 7 | Assists | Marcus Carr 7 |
Jordan Goodwin 10 | Rebounds | Isaiah Ihnen 10 |
Jordan Goodwin 6 | Free Throws Made | Marcus Carr 14 |
Fred Thatch Jr. 4 | Steals | Marcus Carr 4 |
N/A | Blocks | Liam Robbins 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Saint Louis | 82 | 44.2 | 2-15 | 12-17 | 18 | 34 | 0 | 8 | 13 |
Minnesota | 90 | 47.9 | 10-25 | 34-41 | 16 | 32 | 9 | 6 | 20 |