Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 19, 1990 TAG: 9003192606
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Willie Burton did his part Sunday, scoring 36 points to lead Minnesota to an 81-78 college basketball victory over underdog Northern Iowa in the NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional.
Because Burton, a Detroit native, got an offensive rebound off a missed free throw, then stole the ball seconds later, the Gophers are headed back to the Sweet 16 for the second straight time.
Minnesota's route each time has been the same - benefiting from an upset of the third seed by No. 14. Last year, it was Siena over Stanford; this time, Northern Iowa helped out by defeating Missouri.
Minnesota will play Syracuse on Friday night in the Louisiana Superdome. The Orangemen advanced because of a clutch block by Derrick Coleman, the All-American from Detroit.
The No. 1 seed in the Southeast, Michigan State, is the Big Ten's only other surviving team. The Spartans, who will play Georgia Tech, are paced by star guard Steve Smith.
Guess where Smith is from? Yes, Detroit.
"Derrick [Coleman] went to high school about a mile from my school," said Burton, one of four seniors in the veteran Minnesota starting lineup. "Both of my parents went to that school.
"This summer, Derrick, Steve Smith and I were at the playground a couple of blocks from my home, just talking basketball. I never dreamed we'd all end up at the same place in the Sweet 16."
Burton did his part against a Northern Iowa team that simply ran out of fresh legs.
With Minnesota leading 76-73 and 45 seconds on the clock, the Gophers had Melvin Newbern at the foul line.
Newbern missed, but the ball bounced long, and Burton grabbed it over Panthers star Jason Reese.
Reese fouled, and Burton made them both.
"That was the key to the ball game," said Reese, who completed his career with a 29-point, 10-rebound effort. "I did everything to try and block him out, but there was a long rebound and he got it."
As for Burton, he said: "I knew if he [Newbern] missed, I wanted to cause some confusion, to make a nuisance of myself. I figured if I did that, a couple of times I'd get the ball."
Just 12 seconds later, Burton was a pest again. The 6-foot-7 forward came to the perimeter to steal the ball from Maurice Newby, whose 3-pointer had beaten Missouri on Friday.
Burton made one of two shots and it was 79-73.
Troy Mullenberg, who finished with 20 points, hit a three-pointer for the Panthers (23-9), but Burton made sure he and his buddies could visit Bourbon Street by making two more free throws.
"I think this guy [Burton] showed the world he can play the game," Minnesota coach Clem Haskins said.
Haskins said his Gophers (22-8) didn't play as well as they can, "and I look forward to going to New Orleans and playing the way we've been playing."
It has been a struggle throughout the tournament for the Big Ten, which had a record seven teams in the field.
Now only Minnesota and Michigan State remain, and each struggled against a low-ranked opponent. The margin of three points Sunday was typical - already more than 20 games have been decided by four points or less.
NORTHERN IOWA McCullough 1-2 0-0 2, Phyfe 2-4 1-2 5, Reese 12-15 5-7 29, Turner 3-8 0-0 9, Mullenberg 7-17 2-2 20, Newby 3-11 0-0 8, Cox 0-0 0-0 0, Hill 1-3 3-4 5, Pace 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-61 11-15 78. MINNESOTA (81)
Coffey 2-3 0-0 4, Burton 13-17 9-12 36, Shikenjanski 3-8 3-6 9, Lynch 5-13 1-1 12, Newbern 3-10 0-2 8, Tubbs 0-0 0-1 0, Lewis 0-1 0-0 0, Metcalf 0-0 0-0 0, Bond 4-6 4-4 12, Martin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-59 17-26 81.
Halftime-46-40, Minnesota. Three-point goals-N. Iowa 9-26 (Mullenberg 4-11, Turner 3-5, Newby 2-9, Hill 0-1), Minnesota 4-10 (Newbern 2-4, Burton 1-2, Lynch 1-3, Lewis 0-1). Fouled out-Hill. Rebounds-N. Iowa 32 (Reese 10), Minnesota 37 (Burton 12). Assists-N. Iowa 20 (Turner 9), Minnesota 18 (Newbern 9). Total fouls-N. Iowa 24, Minnesota 18. A-11,051.
by CNB