Sargent's career night comes in a Jacks loss

Wednesday, December 10

Minneapolis, Minn.

8 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Minnesota

Jackrabbits Sweep Season Series with Idaho

12/10/2008 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota opened with an 11-0 run, which included one field goal each from all five Golden Gopher starters, and never trailed again in a 74-60 win over South Dakota State on Wednesday night at historic Willliams Arena in Minneapolis.

The Jackrabbits fall to 4-6 with the loss, while the Golden Gophers remain perfect with a 9-0 record.

Clint Sargent, who came off the bench for just the second time in his career, led the Jacks with a career-high 25 points. Sargent scored 17 points in his first-ever game off the bench on Feb. 14, 2008 at Southern Utah.

Kai Willilams also came off the bench for just the second time of his career, he finished the game with four points after sitting much of the second half with foul trouble. The only other time Williams came off the bench, he scored 12 points at Montana exatly two years ago, Dec. 10, 2006.

Garrett Callahan, who scored a career-high 28 points in his last game at Williams Arena last season, finished the game with 15 points.

Sargent snapped Minnesota's opening run with back-to-back three-pointers to get the Jacks back in the game at 11-6 and a Garrett Callahan three cut the deficit to four at 13-9 with 11:41 on the clock, but the Jacks could get no closer, as Minnesota steadily pulled away, using an 8-0 run and another 11-0 run to take a 39-24 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.

Down by as many as 19 points in the second half, the Jacks clawed their way back to within nine points at 45-36 on a pair of Michael Palarca free throws with 12:22 left in the game, and then continuted to chip away, narrowing the gap to seven points at 51-44 with 12:30 left on a Callahan three and then to five points at 51-46 on an Anthony Cordova lay-up with 11:42 left in the game.

SDSU kept the lead under ten points until a Damian Johnson hit a jumper with 6:16 on the clock to stretch the Gopher lead to 61-52, and the Jacks would get no closer. Johnson led the Gophers with 21 points in the win, Lawrence Westbrook added 12 and Ralph Sampson III ten in the win.

SDSU struggled to shoot 33 percent in the first half on 8-of-24 shooting, but bounced back in the second half to shoot 42 percent on 13-of-31 shooting.

Minnesota came out red hot and shot 56 percent in the first half on 18-of-32 shooting, but cooled off to shoot 41 percent in the second half, going 14-of-34 from the floor. The Jacks made eight of their 24 attempts from long distance, while Minnesota finished just 3-of-17 from three-point range.

The Gophers finished with 12 turnovers compared to 20 by the Jackrabbits, but SDSU out rebounded Minnesota 38-36.

SDSU, who came in with only nine blocks on the season, finished with six in the game, half of the Gophers total. Minnesota came into the game with 54 blocks through its first eight games and finished the night with 12.

The Jackrabbits return to action on Saturday, when they take on The Denver Pioneers at Magness Arena in Denver. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT, 5 p.m. CT.