• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Minnesota looks to continue hot start vs. Northwestern

Jan 18, 2009 - 6:30 AM No. 17 Minnesota (16-1) at Northwestern (8-6) 2:00 p.m. EST

EVANSTON, Illinois (Ticker) -- Minnesota is reaching heights the program hasn't seen in decades. Northwestern is right about where it's always been.

The No. 17 Golden Gophers will look to continue the best start for the program in over 50 years when they face the Wildcats on Sunday.

Minnesota is ranked for the first time since December 2002 and is coming off a stirring come-from-behind victory at Wisconsin - a place it had not won since 1992. Under first-year coach Tubby Smith, the Gophers have a chance to move to 5-1 in the Big Ten for the first time since the 1976-77 season.

Junior guard Lawrence Westbrook sparked the win over the Badgers (16-1, 4-1 Big Ten), scoring 22 of his 29 points in the second half and overtime. Westbrook led a 22-10 run over the last five minutes of the second half and nailed a 3-pointer at the end of the period to force the extra session.

Westbrook scored five points as the Golden Gophers opened up overtime with a 7-0 run and capped the extra session with four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win.

Northwestern (8-6, 0-4) is in its familiar spot at the bottom of the Big Ten standings and was on the losing end of a big comeback on Thursday against Purdue.

The Wildcats allowed 42 points in the second half, including a 20-7 run over the final 6:50 that led to their demise in a 63-61 setback. Northwestern shot just 28 percent (7-of-25) and was outrebounded, 33-17, in the second half.

The Gophers won all three games between the teams last season, including a matchup in the first round of the conference tournament.