Stanford tops Minnesota in NIT final
Stanford's Andrew Zimmermann fights for a rebound with Minnesota's Andre Ingram during the first half of the NIT college basketball tournament final. (March 29, 2012) Credit: AP
Whether it's the NIT or the NCAA, a championship is a championship.
And Stanford displayed great joy while cutting down the nets after cruising to a 75-51 win over Minnesota in the NIT final Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
"I just watched this team get closer and closer," Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins said. "I'm just happy to see the relationships that are built in situations like this . . . They're NIT champions. That's something no one will ever take away from them. It's a shared experience, something they'll be able to tell their kids."
It's the second NIT championship for Stanford (26-11), which won the title in 1991.
Stanford can point to the play of its underclassmen and a big second-half run as the main reasons for Thursday night's win.
Sophomore Aaron Bright had 15 points and six assists, freshman Chasson Randle scored 15 points and sophomore Anthony Brown chipped in 11 points.
"This is great for us for next year. It's great for our seniors to go out like that," said Bright, who was named the NIT's most outstanding player. "Hopefully this carries over into the offseason for us . . . We know what it takes to win the tournament now. We won five in a row."
The Cardinal also got inspired play from sophomore Dwight Powell (seven points, five rebounds, two blocks). Rodney Williams led Minnesota (23-15) with 12 points and Joe Coleman and Austin Hollins had 10 each.
"We have a really good core group of young kids that really stepped up throughout this tournament," said Dawkins, who improved to 75-49 in four seasons as coach of the Cardinal. "It was no surprise, whether it's Aaron, Chasson or Dwight. I can go down the list."
Ahead 31-25 at the break, Stanford opened the second half on a 20-6 run, bolting to a 51-31 lead with 10:48 to go. The Cardinal extended the lead to 60-35 with 8:12 left after the second of two straight three-pointers by Randle.
"[Stanford] did a good job of really getting up under us, being physical," Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said. "I thought that was the difference."
