Gophers get Monson's message

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota coach Dan Monson sent a message to two of his three co-captains who hadn't been playing well.

They sat at the start of Saturday's game against No. 20 Ohio State, and the message got through.

Travarus Bennett scored a career-high 21 points for Minnesota in an 89-71 upset of the Buckeyes, ending their nine-game winning streak and handing them their first Big Ten loss in almost a year.

"Travarus is the one guy who kind of had to take over when I challenged the captains," Monson said. "We don't win without his effort."

Monson told point guard Kevin Burleson and forwards Michael Bauer and Dusty Rychart on Friday they might not start. He was unhappy with the example they had been setting for the rest of the team, which had lost two straight since a road victory against Purdue.

"I couldn't sit all three of them -- you've got to have some experience on the court," Monson said. "I told them it's like disciplining my son. You've got to take some things away that really mean something. They really responded to that."

Rick Rickert added 19 points for the Golden Gophers (11-7, 4-3), who shot 9-for-15 from 3-point range and beat the Buckeyes for the first time in five games under Monson. Minnesota entered as the Big Ten's worst 3-point shooting team.

"The threes came in a good context," Monson said. "Going in and kicking out, instead of just passing around the 3-point line and jacking."

The Buckeyes (15-3, 6-1) were seventh in the nation in scoring defense entering the game (58.0) but allowed their highest point total this season.

"This was not one of our defensive efforts, but I think more of the credit should go to them," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "We had a hard time guarding their length. Usually if we can get 71 points, we'll have a good chance to win."

The Buckeyes lost for the first time in 14 conference games -- dating to a 70-67 defeat to Indiana last Jan. 31.

"We weren't ever thinking about going undefeated in the Big Ten," said Brian Brown, who had 14 points.

MINNESOTA 89, No. 20 OHIO STATE 71

OHIO STATE (15-3)

Williams 3-4 2-2 8, Radinovic 1-3 7-10 9, Darby 4-12 4-4 14, Brown 6-13 2-5 14, Savovic 1-4 2-3 4, Fuss-Cheatham 1-4 0-0 3, Connolly 6-8 1-2 17, Dials 1-4 0-1 2, Dudley 0-1 1-2 1, Martin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 19-29 71.

MINNESOTA (11-7)

Rickert 5-8 6-6 19, Holman 5-9 2-2 12, Rychart 4-5 1-2 10, Fleming 4-9 0-0 9, Bennett 6-6 6-6 21, Hargrow 2-3 2-2 6, Burleson 2-3 2-4 4, Esselink 0-0 0-0 0, Bauer 2-7 1-2 6. Totals 30-50 20-24 89.

Halftime--Minnesota 40-33. 3-Point goals--Ohio State 6-17 (Connolly 4-6, Darby 2-6, Savovic 0-2, Brown 0-3). Minnesota 9-15 (Bennett 3-3, Rickert 3-4, Rychart 1-1, Fleming 1-2, Bauer 1-4, Burleson 0-1). Fouled out--Savovic. Rebounds--Ohio State 30 (Williams 5), Minnesota 27 (Bennett 7). Assists--Ohio State 14 (Brown 4), Minnesota 18 (Burleson 9). Total fouls--Ohio State 22, Minnesota 19. A--13,838.