CHICAGO-- Following a dramatic 77-72 overtime win against Penn State on Thursday night, the Gophers didn’t have much time to rest before a Big Ten Tournament showdown with No. 2 Purdue. From the opening tip, Minnesota didn’t show any signs of fatigue against one of the Big Ten’s top teams. They brought energy, physicality and toughness to the court.
Jordan Murphy dominated in the paint and muscled his way into traffic all night. The senior big-man scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 75-73 upset win. Minnesota led by 10 points with 12:22 remaining, but a 12-2 run, including a three-pointer by Ryan Cline, helped the Boilermakers grab two-point advantage.