Local Teams

Minnesota overcame a seven-point deficit with a game-ending 12-0 run to defeat Northwestern 51-46 in the first round of the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

The Golden Gophers (14-14) ended a seven-game losing streak and will play No. 5 seed Ohio State (18-8) on Thursday with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals vs. fourth-seed Purdue (18-8) on Friday.

Minnesota defeated visiting Ohio State 77-60 on Jan. 3 in the lone meeting.

Tre' Williams led the Gophers with 14 points, Jamal Mashburn Jr. had 11 and Marcus Carr 10.

Miller Kopp had nine points for Northwestern (9-15).

The Wildcats came all the way back from a 14-point deficit to take their first lead, 40-38, when Kopp rebounded his own shot and scored with 7:02 left in the game.

When Robbie Beran hit a 3-pointer with 4:15 left, the Wildcats extended the lead to 46-39 as part of a 16-3 run, but those would be their final points.

The Golden Gophers took a 47-46 lead on a Carr jumper with 1:58 to play.

Carr made two of three free throws with 1:12 left to go up 49-46. Brandon Johnson hit a foul shot to make it 50-46 with 21 seconds left and Northwestern turned the ball over on its next possession before Carr added another foul shot with nine seconds left.

Minnesota was again without two top players. Gabe Kalscheur (finger) missed his seventh straight game and Liam Robbins (sprained ankle) sat out his fifth in a row.

Northwestern got off to a poor start but rallied to trail 27-20 at the half. The Wildcats missed their first seven shots until Ryan Greer's layup with 13:05 left made it 7-2.

A 3-pointer by Both Gach increased the Minnesota lead to 16-2 before Kopp made Northwestern's first triple after six misses. The Wildcats were able to pull to within 23-17 on a Ryan Young bucket with 2:07 left.

--Field Level Media