MINNEAPOLIS — Marcus Carr scored 32 points, making 14 free throws after halftime, and Minnesota held off Saint Louis 90-82 on Sunday night, handing the Billikens their first loss of the season.
The game was Carr's fourth straight with 28 points or better. He made a layup with 13 seconds left and a free throw with five seconds, each time preventing Saint Louis from getting closer than seven points. Carr also finished with seven assists and four steals for Minnesota (7-1).
Four other Gophers reached double figures, Gabe Kalscheur and Both Gach with 11 points each, Liam Robbins and Isaiah Ihnen with 10 each. Ihnen also grabbed 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Minnesota blocked nine shots, four by Robbins and three by Ihnen.
Jordan Goodwin scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Saint Louis (6-1), his sixth double-double in seven games. Goodwin was held to 3-for-10 shooting, 0-for-4 from distance, after halftime and didn't make a field goal in the last 8:40, missing his last five shots.
The Billikens battled the Golden Gophers through the first half, trailing 42-40 at the break with five ties and 13 lead changes. Both teams were hot in the first 20 minutes, Saint Louis shooting 50% and the Golden Gophers 51%.
Carr hit a jump shot to break a 42-42 tie early in the second, sparking a 12-4 run over three minutes that knocked the Billikens back 54-44. Kalscheur scored the last five points in a Minnesota 10-2 run as the Gophers sprinted to a 74-60 lead with about five minutes left.
Saint Louis launched an 11-4 run late, closing to 85-78. Aside from the late surge, the Billikens shooting fell off to 29% (7 of 24) in the first 15 minutes of the second half, including missing their first six from distance.
Earlier today, the Gophers announced forward Jarvis Omersa would opt out of the rest of the season due to personal health concerns related to the pandemic.
“We support Jarvis and his decision to opt out for the rest of the season due to personal health concerns surrounding COVID-19," Gophers head coach Richard Pitino wrote in a press release.
