Pur-don’t: Gophers roll to final

Associated Press

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Minnesota held No. 6 Purdue to the worst first half in the Boilermakers’ record books and rolled to a 69-42 victory on Saturday in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.

Ralph Sampson III scored 13 points for the sixth-seeded Golden Gophers (21-12), who reached the final for the first time. They’ll play No. 5 Ohio State today for the championship.

Minnesota led 37-11 at halftime.

It was the fewest points by Purdue in a half since the school started keeping track in 1950. Only a late layup by Patrick Bade allowed the Boilermakers to avoid the worst defeat ever in a Big Ten tournament game.

Colton Iverson scored 11 points and Devoe Joseph added 10 as Minnesota won its fourth straight and seventh of nine.

Purdue beat Minnesota twice in the regular season.

The Boilermakers had won 13 of 14 and avenged their only loss during that stretch Friday against Northwestern.

JaJuan Johnson scored 17 points and D.J. Byrd added 11 for Purdue (27-5).

MAC

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Freshman D.J. Cooper scored 23 points and made three big plays in overtime as Ohio capped a stunning run through the Mid-American Conference tournament by beating defending champion Akron 81-75 in the final to earn an NCAA tourney bid.

The ninth-seeded Bobcats (21-14) became the lowest-seeded team to win the MAC title.

They did it by knocking off top-seeded Kent State, fourth-seeded Miami (Ohio) and finally the third-seeded Zips (24-10).

This wasn’t supposed to be Ohio’s year, yet the Bobcats overcame injuries, player suspensions and rash of close losses to win their first title since 2005.

Ohio’s Armon Bassett scored 25 to earn tournament MVP honors.

Jimmy Conyers led Akron with 19 points and 12 rebounds.