Read more: Bowling Green
(AP) -- MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The future looks bright in the paint for the Minnesota Gophers.
In just their second collegiate game, freshman centers Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III provided a glimpse of the type of shot-blocking defense that could await the Big Ten for the next few years.
Iverson blocked nine shots and Sampson four, and Lawrence Westbrook led the Gophers with 20 points as Minnesota beat Bowling Green 68-61 on Saturday night in the NABC Classic.
The Gophers (2-0) set a team record with 17 blocked shots against the Falcons. Minnesota's previous record was 13, reached three times since 1976.
"That's a heck of an outing for our second game," coach Tubby Smith said.
Especially for Iverson, whose quickly put his name in Minnesota's record books. The nine blocked shots tied the 6-foot-10 Iverson with Joel Przybilla and Randy Breuer for third-most in school history. The record is 12, set by Mychal Thompson in 1976.
Smith isn't worried about the feat getting to the freshman's head.
"I know how to keep him grounded," the coach said. For starters, Smith doesn't allow freshmen to speak to the media until the Big Ten portion of Minnesota's season starts. And he made no exceptions for Iverson, despite his big night.
While the Gophers showed their promise, they also showed their youth. After jumping to a 20-point first-half lead, Minnesota allowed Bowling Green to steadily chip away in the second half.
"They showed a lot of heart and courage and they had pride," Falcons coach Louis Orr said. "It was like a fighter. We got hit with a flurry early. The pressure bothered us, but once we got our composure, they didn't quit. I was pleased with that."
Bowling Green (1-1) rallied to within three late in the second half. With 3:22 to play, Marc Larson hit two free throws to make it 57-54. But Westbrook answered with a steal and fast-break layup and the Falcons missed three-straight shots and committed a costly over-the-back foul on a rebound. Iverson, who finished with six points, sank two foul shots with 1:30 left and Westbrook also had four crucial free throws in the final minute.
"I just give them all of the credit really because they didn't quit," Westbrook said of Bowling Green.
Smith, though, knew where to assign his team some blame.
"We weren't really attacking defensively. We were pressing early and then we kind of backed off on that. I think that gave them the ability to come down and be patient," he said.
Darryl Clements led Bowling Green with 19 points and Joe Jakubowski added 12. The sharp-shooting Jakubowski - who had 24 points the previous night against Georgia State including the game-winning 3-pointer in overtime - attempted only two shots in the first half as the Gophers played tough interior defense and jumped out to their big lead.
Minnesota blocked 10 shots in the first half and forced the Falcons to settle for contested jumpers. Minnesota outscored Bowling Green 16-2 during on stretch and held the Falcons without a field goal for more than six minutes. The Gophers led 36-22 at halftime.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
