Rickert lifts Gophers past Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Rick Rickert was quiet for most of the game, except when it counted most.

Rickert hit four foul shots in the final minute as Minnesota beat Penn State 76-75 Wednesday night. His two foul shots with 51 seconds left cut Penn State's lead to one point, 75-74.

Minnesota (11-6, 3-3 Big Ten) then got the ball back and Rickert was fouled again by Jan Jagla, sending him to the line for the lead. Stepping calmly to the line, Rickert swished both foul shots to give the Golden Gophers the 76-75 win.

"The reason why Rick came to Minnesota is to be on the line like that," Minnesota coach Dan Monson said. "I'd take Rick there as good as anybody."

Up by six points, Penn State (5-12, 0-6) decided to try to run clock in the final five minutes, but it backfired. Minnesota's Jerry Holman had a layup that cut the lead to 73-69 and Michael Bauer hit a 3-pointer with 2:08 left to cut Penn State's lead to one.

DeForrest Riley scored for the Nittany Lions with 1:51 left to put them up 75-72, but it would be the last time Penn State would score. Jagla fouled Rickert twice in the final minute and Rickert was perfect 4-for-4 from the line.

"I haven't been shooting the ball well this year, but I fixed it," Rickert said. "I was going to take it to the hole and try to score."

Bauer led Minnesota with 20 points, 10 coming from the foul line. Rickert and Maurice Hargrow each had 13 points for the Golden Gophers and Jerry Holman added 10.

Brandon Watkins finished with 20 points for Penn State (5-12, 0-6) and Aaron Johnson had 18 points.

MINNESOTA (11-6)

Rickert 4-8 4-4 13, Bauer 4-8 10-11 20, Holman 4-7 2-2 10, Hargrow 5-11 2-4 13, Burleson 3-10 0-0 8, Robinson 0-1 0-0 0, Gaines 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson 3-3 0-0 6, Esselink 0-0 0-0 0, Hagan 2-3 0-2 4, Totals 26-52 18-23 76.

PENN ST. (5-12)

Summers 2-3 0-0 4, Jagla 2-7 2-4 6, Riley 2-6 0-0 4, Watkins 9-14 1-1 20, Chambliss 2-6 5-6 10, Cameron 0-1 0-0 0, Fellows 2-2 0-0 4, Johnson 4-11 10-14 18, Vossekuil 0-1 2-2 2, Egekeze 2-4 3-4 7. Totals 25-55 23-31 75.

Halftime--Minnesota 45-33. 3-point goals--Minnesota 6-16 (Bauer 2-5, Burleson 2-7, Hargrow 1-2, Rickert 1-2), Penn St. 2-16 (Chambliss 1-4, Watkins 1-4, Riley 0-4, Jagla 0-3, Vossekuil 0-1). Fouled out--Jagla. Rebounds--Minnesota 27 (Rickert, Holman 6), Penn St. 31 (Johnson 10). Assists--Minnesota 15 (Bauer 6), Penn St. 13 (Watkins 5). Total fouls--Minnesota 22, Penn St. 22. Technical--Hargrow, Watkins. A--6,888.