Big game from Bogut lifts Utes over Gophers

The Utah basketball team is heading to New York City to play in Madison Square Garden in the NIT semifinals, thanks to Wednesday night's 66-54 victory over Minnesota at the Huntsman Center.

The Utes will play the winner of Friday night's Texas Tech-Massachusetts game next Wednesday. Win or lose, they'll also play Friday night in the championship or third-place game and could meet Connecticut, the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

Utah freshman Andrew Bogut had a sensational game against Minnesota, scoring 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbing 18 rebounds to lead the Utes. He outplayed Minnesota's heralded 6-8 freshman, Kris Humphries, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds while taking 11 more shots.

Nick Jacobson scored 13 points for the Utes and Justin Hawkins and Richard Chaney added nine points apiece.

"We got a lot better since Monday," said Jacobson. "We're still feeling each other out, but slowly and surely were getting there. We're still a work in progress."

Utah coach Rick Majerus claimed he didn't notice much difference between his team's play Monday and Wednesday, praising his Monday night opponent Georgia State profusely in the postgame interview.

"We've improved some, but it's only been two days," he said. "That was a good team with good athletes (Monday)."

Majerus also deflected questions about Bogut, instead saving his praise for Hawkins and freshman Josh Olsen, who was scoreless in 10 minutes.

Minnesota coach Dan Monson had plenty of praise for Bogut, who looked more like a fifth-year senior than an 18-year-old freshman.

"He's a good player," Monson said. "He's so long he's got to be 7-feet tall. He's a legit inside post player, very efficient who doesn't make many mistakes."

Tim Frost, who has sat out all of preseason practice until Tuesday, entered the game with 16:14 left in the first half and played 10 minutes, scoring three points with three rebounds and four fouls.

"Frost gave us an emotional lift," said Majerus. "He had only played 52 minutes of practice so far."

"(Frost) gave us an added boost of energy," added Jacobson.

Minnesota was led by Humphries with his 20 and 10, while Michael Bauer scored 12 points.

Right from the start, the Utes looked much better than they had two nights earlier in a close win over a a scrappy Georgia State team. Jacobson, who had made only one field goal Monday night, sank a 15-footer in the first minute and the Utes jumped ahead 10-5 after back-to-back 3-pointers by Frost and Bogut.

The Utes pushed the lead to 20-9 and 29-17 before settling for a 32-21 halftime lead when Justin Hawkins followed in a miss by Josh Olsen. Bogut, who had double-doubles in Monday's game as well as both exhibition games, sewed up his double-double Wednesday with 1:21 left in the first half when he grabbed his 10th rebound after already scoring 11 points.

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